Health experts urge caution as nation’s transmission rate still high

PETALING JAYA: Health experts are still urging a “wait-and-see approach” as the Covid-19 virus is still mutating and the country’s transmission rate is still high.

Medical Practitioners Coalition Association of Malaysia president Dr Raj Kumar Maharajah said present restrictions could not be completely lifted as the virus was still mutating.

“We cannot let our guard down. The good thing is that majority of those vaccinated only have mild infections. I think it’s still early to lift restrictions for the fully vaccinated. I propose a wait-and-see approach for the moment,” he said yesterday.

Similar sentiments were echoed by Prof Dr Moy Foong Min from Universiti Malaya, who pointed out that the current transmission rate stood at a high of 1.1 with Covid-19 daily cases in the five figures.

“Despite being fully vaccinated, individuals can still get infected and although their symptoms may be mild, they may transmit the disease to other people who are not yet fully vaccinated,” she said.

Dr Moy said at the same time, fully vaccinated individuals should be allowed to have their hair cut at salons but proposed that hairstylists or barbers show proof of negative Covid-19 tests and be fully vaccinated as well.

She said a similar practice should also be put in place at factories of non-essential items, which ought to be allowed to operate with workers who were fully vaccinated as well as required to show proof of negative Covid-19 results.

However, she said interstate travel should not be allowed yet as infection rates varied in each state.

“Interstate travel will also increase the mobility of individuals within families, which is one of the common ways of transmission currently. This should not be encouraged,” she added.

Dr Moy said the relaxation of SOP for those who had received their two doses should only be considered when the national rate of those fully vaccinated had gone above 50%.