Keeping Covid-19 fatigue at bay

As we transition to the endemic phase, we have to practise self-responsibility in protecting our health and checking the spread of Covid-19 infections in the community, especially during the festive season.– MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star.

THE Covid-19 pandemic has been tough on everyone, as we have had to brave uncertainties while persisting with restrictions and lockdowns. The challenge remains as we move into the endemic phase, and with the easing of the Covid-19 restrictions, it will depend on each one of us to prevent infections.

As Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah underscored, “We need to take care of ourselves. We need to take care of our families and also the country from the spread of Covid-19.”

Crucially, we need to prevent Covid-19 fatigue and keep motivated in staying vigilant against the disease.

The World Health Organisation defines Covid-19 fatigue, or pandemic fatigue, as “demotivation to follow recommended protective behaviours, emerging gradually over time and affected by a number of emotions, experiences and perceptions”.

As we transition to the endemic phase, we have to practise self-responsibility in protecting our health and checking the spread of Covid-19 infections in the community.

According to Universiti Kebang-saan Malaysia’s community health specialist Prof Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh, knowledge and awareness are the two keys in preventing Covid-19 fatigue.

“The Covid-19 status outside Malaysia is still critical with many deaths and significant morbidity. For example, China is still locking up its population due to new infections and cases.

“Thus, travellers may carry the virus here again and it could become more dangerous if there are different strains that might be pathogenic compared with the Omicron variant,” she explains.

Prof Dr Shariza adds that it is also important for people to be more aware of how to take care of themselves.

“People should be aware that their health status and immune response would worsen if they have many comorbidities, such as obesity, diabetes or hypertension. Hence, they should be more aware of how to take care of themselves, be compliant with treatment and mask up to reduce risk of transmission in big crowd areas,” she says.

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Prof Dr Moy Foong Ming, of Universiti Malaya’s Department of Social and Preventive Medicine in the Faculty of Medicine, says it is understandable that people might get Covid-19 fatigue, but if we let our guard down, we may get infected.

“Although the Covid-19 symptoms are mild among the majority now, there are also the older and high-risk groups who will experience severe symptoms or even death due to poor immunity.“

She adds that we should not forget that those who suffer mild symptoms may experience post-Covid symptoms such as fatigue, breathlessness, insomnia and cognitive impairment.

“These may last for a few weeks or months, which may affect their quality of life and work produc-tivity.”

To prevent Covid-19 fatigue, there needs to be effective communication about these aspects to remind people to continue practising personal safety measures, Prof Dr Moy notes, adding that besides the Health Ministry, NGOs should also help in raising people’s awareness of the issue.

Public health expert from Universiti Putra Malaysia Assoc Prof Dr Malina Osman notes that as we have learned from the epidemic on the mode of transmission, infection and possible risk of Covid-19, we have to be more cautious when exposed to high-risk activities.

However, she believes that as we have observed the declining number of new and active cases, as well as the growing number of people getting vaccines, the situation is much safer now compared with the earlier period when there were no vaccines. It would be most likely that we don’t have to maintain the strict SOPs as before, she says.

Universiti Malaya epidemiologist Prof Datuk Dr Awang Bulgiba Awang Mahmud says that pandemic fatigue is something that cannot be totally eliminated.

“Over the past two years, I have been very consistent in calling for the involvement of behavioural scientists and communication specialists to help with the communication component of pandemic management,” he says.

Prof Dr Awang points out that it is health education which is critically important here.

“Understanding what motivates and keeps people motivated will keep them from developing Covid-19 fatigue,” he says.

As he explains, people are looking forward to following pre-pandemic routines, but loosening all restrictions all at once and backtracking when infections rise again would not be wise as trust in the official messaging will become eroded as a result.

Thus, managing expectations while keeping a finger on the pulse of the pandemic is also crucial, he stresses.

“The former – managing expectations – requires a good understanding of human psychology, which requires behavioural scientists. It then needs to be translated into clear messages which requires communication specialists.

“The latter – keeping a finger on the pulse of the pandemic– on the other hand, involves good data and expert analysis, which requires the help of good epidemiologists and statisticians.”