| Summary: | Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) led students feel anxious with a constant internal dialogue
of ‘Am I safe?’ that may take a serious toll on their psyche. The self-quarantine and physical
distancing, economic hardship and fears of contracting the disease are likely sources of stress.
Quite apart, students may also experience both physical sufferings and mental stress due to the
news of increasing number of infected cases and reported deaths across the globe. A range of
expert guidelines have been developed by governments and health authorities to curtail the
spread of the virus. This study models a position paper which persuades the reader to realize that
the opinions expressed are valid and could be defended. In gathering supporting evidence, an
online qualitative survey was conducted to examine the stress of students observing selfquarantine and physical distancing in and around Desa Ilmu and Unigardern in Kota Saramarahan
as well as in apartments at Jalan Kingfisher Sabah. These students were invited as respondents
in this online investigation using interview protocol to take their responses. This study is among
the first to examine the stress and coping strategies of students observing self-quarantine and
physical distancing. The paper may provide useful information about how students cope in stressful situations and also identify effective ways to manage people during distress times in
future.
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