Be vigilant, the battle isn’t over yet

YOU know the drill. Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the standard operating procedures (SOP) to fight the virus have been repeated on all channels until everyone should know them by heart now.

As we transition into the endemic stage, with cases under control and ICU (intensive care unit) bed usage at a manageable level, the government has removed some SOP, such as requiring masks to be worn outdoors.

Other measures remain, such as mask use in crowds and in situations such as taking public transportation (including taxi and ehailing rides), but some of us have stopped using masks when we’re still supposed to.

Others are letting their guard down because they think vaccines have made Covid-19 less deadly.

But SOP relaxation doesn’t mean we have won the war against this virus. As China has demonstrated with recent lockdowns of major cities like Shanghai and Shenzhen, we could easily slip back into pandemic conditions.

And now we have to contend with a potential new wave of Covid-19 infections, according to Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

His warning on Thursday is based on the number of cases reported in recent days, both here and in Singapore.

“Based on the epidemiological developments in other countries, a new wave could possibly be ahead,” Khairy said.

Over the past two to three days, the country has had more than 2,000 cases a day against the 1,000 to fewer than 2,000 cases previously.

Also of concern are the cases of highly infectious Covid-19 Omicron sub-variants that have been detected in Sarawak, with the public urged to remain alert and get their booster shots.

The World Health Organisation has flagged those variants, the BA.2.12.1 and BA.5, as highly infectious with faster transmission rates than the parent Omicron variant.

The Health Ministry has reminded senior citizens and individuals with chronic illnesses to take their second Covid-19 booster shots to protect themselves against the potential new Covid-19 infection wave that may emerge sooner than forecast.

“So if we are not cautious, the cases will keep on increasing in the coming weeks,” Khairy warned.

The Health Minister also said that his ministry had not received any reports of severe side effects caused by second booster shots.

“The ministry is encouraging high-risk individuals to be inoculated with the fourth Covid-19 vaccine shot,” he said.

So take your double booster shots to enhance your immunity, especially if you are in the high risk category.

And whatever your risk factors, everyone needs to abide by the remaining SOP.

Because it won’t take much for the numbers to spiral out of control again and dangerously stress our healthcare system.

You know the drill.