Covid-19: Getting our SOPs right

People wearing face masks while waiting for a bus in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur. It will become mandatory to wear a face mask when using public transportation and in crowded public spaces in Malaysia beginning Aug 1, 2020. — AZMAN GHANI/The Star

We all know we are in this pandemic for the long haul and may need to maintain prevention measures for the next two to three years. This means we need sustainable measures that all of us can adhere to and keep for another two to three years. No one can predict what is going to happen in the next 12 months. Will a viable vaccine emerge? Will the virus change or mutate further? One thing is sure: we will get a second wave and a third wave and a fourth wave. Our aim must be to keep these outbreaks to the bare minimum.

The reasons we are in a better place than some other countries in dealing with this crisis is due to the movement control order (MCO), the hard work and sacrifice by Health Ministry staff, and public cooperation. There is also some good data emerging that suggests that the Covid-19 mutation spreading in our region is a milder variant with a lower mortality. But this does not mean that other mutations with greater severity will not reach our shores.

However, it is perhaps our low numbers that are now causing many people to let down their guard and stop wearing masks. In addition, fatigue has set in and we have become weary of constantly maintaining our vigilance against this virus. But people must realise that the community spread of Covid-19 is still ongoing – much of it asymptomatic – and we could have a flare up at any moment (as now seen in Kuching).