TO prevent Malaysia from experiencing a second wave of Covid-19 infection, the standard operating procedures (SOPs) should not be ignored by the rakyat, as they are the best way of curbing the spread of the virus.
Anhembi Morumbi University in São Paulo, Brazil, has concluded that if 50% to 65% of people are socially vigilant, then stepping down on physical distancing measures every 80 days will help avoid more peaks of infection over the next two years.
The recent rise in Covid-19 cases in Malaysia is clear evidence that negligence in observing the government-imposed SOPs is having a negative impact. The emergence of new infection clusters like the Sivagangga and Kurau clusters is a warning that we need to consistently follow the SOPs. We have, after all, done it before – there was a high level of SOP compliance in the early phases of the movement control order (MCO).
Experts have warned about physical distancing fatigue, which is part of a mental health breaking point: It may set in after people have spent challenging months isolated indoors and then are allowed to mingle when lockdown measures are loosened. News and research agency Bloomberg also noted that physical distancing fatigue appears to be the main challenge in curbing the pandemic, and will possibly be the main reason for a second wave of infection in Malaysia.
States in northern Malaysia that had previously been praised for low infection rates have now become Covid-19 victims too, indicating that this pandemic cannot be taken lightly by anyone, anywhere.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that there is no indication that Covid-19 is seasonal and that it could return at any time; the organisation also predicted a second wave in the next six months and that Malaysia only has four months to the end of the year. Thus, if we retain and tighten border control and also review the decision to allow “travel bubbles” with specific countries, it would undoubtedly be beneficial for us.
Although daily cases in Malaysia remain lower than the hundreds and thousands some countries are experiencing, we should not be too quick to decide that Malaysia has complete control over a second wave of infection. Health Ministry director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah has issued a warning that if Malaysia begins to loosen border control, a new wave of Covid-19 infections will likely occur. Based on advice from the WHO, all countries should implement proportionate measures and advice on travel, based on risk assessments – and then periodically review those measures.
Everyone should be aware that though the recovery MCO period
is set to end on Aug 31, it is not a signal to completely ignore SOPs. The restrictions remain and need to be strictly followed. The best thing we can do is to still avoid crowded and confined spaces as much as possible; the highly vulnerable groups, children and the elderly should not frequently be
in public.
Our essential duties of physical distancing, wearing face masks, washing hands often, using hand sanitisers and providing accurate information to enable tracking contacts are still very necessary.
And those people who are heedlessly breaching the SOPs should bear in mind that their selfish
acts are slowly eroding our frontliners’ previous efforts and sacrifices in combating the spread of the virus.
The emergence of a second wave of Covid-19 infections all over the world is almost certainly due to people breathing a sigh of relief too early after experiencing a period when cases were in the single digits. As confirmed by Nathalie MacDermott, a clinical lecturer in infectious diseases at King’s College London, once there’s a lifting of lockdown measures, people tend to interact more, and there will be new cases again.
Although the easing of lockdowns is inevitable as governments need to balance safety and economic recovery, strict implementation of the basic SOPs and several additional precautionary measures can avoid a rise in cases. As urged by the WHO, all countries should strengthen public health surveillance for case identification and contact tracing – especially in low-resource, vulnerable or high-risk settings – and sustain essential health services with adequate funding, supplies and human resources.
So while we wait for a vaccine, we must not let our guard down and we must continue to adhere to the SOPs.
FARHAN KAMARULZAMAN
Emir Research
Note: The writer is a research assistant at Emir Research, an independent think tank focused on strategic policy recommendations.
Anhembi Morumbi University in São Paulo, Brazil, has concluded that if 50% to 65% of people are socially vigilant, then stepping down on physical distancing measures every 80 days will help avoid more peaks of infection over the next two years.
The recent rise in Covid-19 cases in Malaysia is clear evidence that negligence in observing the government-imposed SOPs is having a negative impact. The emergence of new infection clusters like the Sivagangga and Kurau clusters is a warning that we need to consistently follow the SOPs. We have, after all, done it before – there was a high level of SOP compliance in the early phases of the movement control order (MCO).
Experts have warned about physical distancing fatigue, which is part of a mental health breaking point: It may set in after people have spent challenging months isolated indoors and then are allowed to mingle when lockdown measures are loosened. News and research agency Bloomberg also noted that physical distancing fatigue appears to be the main challenge in curbing the pandemic, and will possibly be the main reason for a second wave of infection in Malaysia.
States in northern Malaysia that had previously been praised for low infection rates have now become Covid-19 victims too, indicating that this pandemic cannot be taken lightly by anyone, anywhere.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that there is no indication that Covid-19 is seasonal and that it could return at any time; the organisation also predicted a second wave in the next six months and that Malaysia only has four months to the end of the year. Thus, if we retain and tighten border control and also review the decision to allow “travel bubbles” with specific countries, it would undoubtedly be beneficial for us.
Although daily cases in Malaysia remain lower than the hundreds and thousands some countries are experiencing, we should not be too quick to decide that Malaysia has complete control over a second wave of infection. Health Ministry director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah has issued a warning that if Malaysia begins to loosen border control, a new wave of Covid-19 infections will likely occur. Based on advice from the WHO, all countries should implement proportionate measures and advice on travel, based on risk assessments – and then periodically review those measures.
Everyone should be aware that though the recovery MCO period
is set to end on Aug 31, it is not a signal to completely ignore SOPs. The restrictions remain and need to be strictly followed. The best thing we can do is to still avoid crowded and confined spaces as much as possible; the highly vulnerable groups, children and the elderly should not frequently be
in public.
Our essential duties of physical distancing, wearing face masks, washing hands often, using hand sanitisers and providing accurate information to enable tracking contacts are still very necessary.
And those people who are heedlessly breaching the SOPs should bear in mind that their selfish
acts are slowly eroding our frontliners’ previous efforts and sacrifices in combating the spread of the virus.
The emergence of a second wave of Covid-19 infections all over the world is almost certainly due to people breathing a sigh of relief too early after experiencing a period when cases were in the single digits. As confirmed by Nathalie MacDermott, a clinical lecturer in infectious diseases at King’s College London, once there’s a lifting of lockdown measures, people tend to interact more, and there will be new cases again.
Although the easing of lockdowns is inevitable as governments need to balance safety and economic recovery, strict implementation of the basic SOPs and several additional precautionary measures can avoid a rise in cases. As urged by the WHO, all countries should strengthen public health surveillance for case identification and contact tracing – especially in low-resource, vulnerable or high-risk settings – and sustain essential health services with adequate funding, supplies and human resources.
So while we wait for a vaccine, we must not let our guard down and we must continue to adhere to the SOPs.
FARHAN KAMARULZAMAN
Emir Research
Note: The writer is a research assistant at Emir Research, an independent think tank focused on strategic policy recommendations.
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