| Opinion |
august-september, 2020 | The Health
29
Farhan
–heit
By Farhan Kamarulzaman
SOP negligence has
begun to show its impact
We should not let our guard down and adhere strictly to the SOPs to
contain the Covid-19 pandemic
To prevent Malaysia from
experiencing a second wave
of the Covid-19 infection, the
standard operating procedures
(SOPs) should not be overlooked
by the rakyat, as they serve as our
protection in curbing the spread of the
virus.
As a friendly reminder, our essential
duties of wearing face masks, washing
hands, applying hand sanitisers, tracking
contacts, and physical distancing are still
necessary regardless of whether we are
citizens or foreigners in Malaysia.
Anhembi Morumbi University in São
Paulo, Brazil has concluded that if 50 to
65 per cent 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.
But Covid-19’s recent rise is clear
evidence that negligence on observing
the government-imposed SOPs has finally
shown its impact.
The emergence of new clusters like
Sivagangga and Kurau is not meant to
intimidate and create worry among the
people. Still, it is a right warning for us to
be consistent following the SOPs just like
what we did when there was a high level
of SOP compliance during the previous
phases of the Movement Control Order
(MCO).
Besides, experts have warned and are
worried that physical distancing fatigue,
which is part of mental health breaking
point, may set in when people start
socialising with friends and families after
spending challenging months isolated
indoors.
Bloomberg also noted that physical
distancing fatigue appears as the main
challenge to curb the pandemic, possibly
the main reason if ever there is a second
wave of outbreak in our country.
Pandemic is something
that cannot be taken lightly
It shows that the pandemic is something
that cannot be taken lightly. The states in
northern Malaysia that had previously
been raised as a model because of the low
Covid-19 infection are now no exception to
being Covid-19’s victim.
Since several countries have been
affected by the Covid-19 second wave,
Malaysia should also be prepared for it,
reminded Ministry of Health Director-
General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.
The World Health Organisation (WHO)
said that there is no indication Covid-19
being seasonal and could bounce back any
time and it also has predicted the 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
implementation of allowing the travel
bubble to specific countries, it would be
undoubtedly beneficial for the country.
Although the daily cases remain at
single or two digits, we should not be
too quick to judge that Malaysia has
complete control over Covid-19’s second
wave of infection. Even Noor Hisham has
issued a gentle warning that if our country
begins to loosen border control, the new
wave of Covid-19 infections will likely
occur.
Based on WHO, all countries should
implement proportionate measures
and advice on travel, based on risk
assessments and periodically review those
measures.
Despite this, people should also avoid
crowded and confined spaces as often as
possible and the highly vulnerable group,
particularly children and the elderly,
should not frequently be in public.
Everyone should be aware that the
Recovery MCO, is not a golden ticket to
ease the SOPs. The restrictions remain and
need to be strictly followed.
Selfish act would slowly
erode our beloved frontliners’
previous efforts
And those people who were comfortably
breaching the SOPs should bear in mind
that their selfish act would slowly erode
our beloved frontliners’ previous efforts
and sacrifices in combating the virus.
The emergence of the second wave of
Covid-19 is probably due to breathing a
sigh of relief too early knowing the daily
number of cases were only in single digits
for a prolonged time and even nearly hit
zero.
As confirmed by Nathalie MacDermott,
a clinical lecturer in infectious diseases
at King’s College London, once there’s a
release in lockdown measures, people tend
What is clear is that
Covid-19 will continue to
disrupt and trigger more
and more uncertainty that
has never been imagined in
various aspects, especially
economic, public health,
social and even education.
to interact more and there will be new
cases again.
Although the easing of the SOPs is
inevitable as it aims to boost our domestic
economy, the strict surveillance of the
implementation of the SOPs and several
additional precautionary measures will
avoid the 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.
What is clear is that Covid-19 will
continue to disrupt and trigger more and
more uncertainty that has never been
imagined in various aspects, especially
economic, public health, social and even
education.
For example, students were unable to
take examinations and their grades had to
be calculated based on teachers’ estimates.
Like at Harvard University, the number of
new students who have decided to delay
their studies has risen to about 20 per cent
due to the pandemic.
Therefore, amid waiting for the arrival
of the vaccine on the scene, we should not
let our guard down and continue to adhere
to the SOPs as prevention is still better
than cure. — The Health
Farhan Kamarulzaman is a Research Assistant
at EMIR Research, an independent think tank
focused on strategic policy recommendations
based on rigorous research.