‘Have special lanes for Covid-19 patients to vote’

GEORGE TOWN: A dedicated lane in polling stations should be made available for those with Covid-19 to cast their ballots, suggest health experts.

Universiti Sains Malaysia virologist Dr Kumitaa Theva Das said this lane plus a dedicated balloting room is important to allow those who are Covid-19 positive to exercise their voting rights while keeping others safe.

“According to the International Institute for Democracy And Electoral Assistance, in the past two years, at least 160 countries and territories have held elections despite Covid-19, by taking precautions to guarantee safe in-person voting.

“Countries like South Korea placed extensive precautions at polling stations and reported no new cases related to its election. This shows that with sufficient precautions, it is possible to prevent a surge in cases, while practising our constitutional rights,” she said yesterday.

She said a greater degree of precautions is necessary because case numbers are increasing and the highly transmissible XBB is now circulating in Malaysia.

She called on voters to wear masks at polling stations while minding their distance from each other.

She also urged the Election Commission (EC) to disinfect polling stations frequently.

Public health expert Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar said it would be good to provide dedicated balloting cubicles and lanes for Covid-19 positive voters, but it does not have to be mandatory.

He said voters must be strongly encouraged to mask up and polling centres should provide free masks to the voters at voting centres.

“If you are symptomatic, then you must wear masks,” he said.

State health committee chairman Dr Norlela Ariffin said the EC and Health Ministry must create workable precautions during polling day to ensure the safety of not only the voters but also election workers.

She supported suggestions for a separate voting lane for those who are Covid-19 positive.

“This must be done if we want to contain the spread of the new variant, XBB,” she said.

On Monday, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said candidates and voters who are infected with Covid-19 would be allowed to vote, though special rules will apply to them.

He said the Health Ministry had already given recommendations on polling day’s standard operating procedures to the EC.

Khairy said in view of the rising case numbers, the ministry highly recommended the use of face masks in crowded and confined spaces, for those aged above 50 and those with pre-existing health conditions.