Expert warns Malaysians to stay vigilant, as MCO eases
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A THREE-DIGIT rise in new Covid-19 cases yesterday is an indication the virus is not going away any time soon, and that Malaysians need to take social-distancing measures seriously when the movement-control order (MCO) is relaxed tomorrow.
Yesterday’s data caught many by surprise as for the past week, the number of new infections was, on average, fewer than 60.
The number of recoveries during the same period doubled and, at times, tripled the number of new cases.
Yesterday’s triple-digit spike came 24 hours after Putrajaya said it was relaxing MCO restrictions.
The Health Ministry said on Friday the data showed the virus’ curve in Malaysia has flattened and that was a main reason for Putrajaya’s decision.
A significant number of new cases between Saturday, April 25 and Friday, May 1, were traced to Malaysians returning from overseas and migrant workers in two areas in full lockdown – Masjid India in central Kuala Lumpur and Selayang.
Experts warn that relaxing the MCO must not lead to complacency, particularly those living in states with high numbers of green zones, as new infections can still surface.
The declining trend must be matched with continued vigilance as it is now up to Malaysians to determine whether the pattern continues or a new spike emerges, which will then trigger another painful MCO phase.
“Especially, if we remind everyone there will be a jump if we let our guard down. We will need to practise constant vigilance for a long time to come, in the ‘new normal’,” said Azrul, of the Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy.
Curve flattened
The coronavirus has so far infected 6,176 and killed 103 people as of yesterday, while 4,326 patients have recovered.
April 25 saw the continuation of a trend where the number of recoveries exceeded new cases, a pattern briefly broken on April 29.
Recoveries numbered 99 on April 25, 100 (April 26), 95 (April 27) and 75 (April 28).
In comparison, 51 new cases were reported on April 25, April 26 (38), April 27 (40) and April 28 (30).
On April 29, the sudden spike of 94 new cases against 55 recoveries appeared to break this trend, but director-general of health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah’s explanation showed this sudden spike could be an outlier.
This is since 72 of the 94 new cases were from Malaysians returning from Indonesia, while the remaining 22 were new local transmissions.
On Thursday, recoveries again outnumbered new cases at 84 to 57, but on Friday, the trend reversed again when new cases totalled 69, with only 57 recoveries.
Despite this, Noor Hisham on Friday said the “curve has been flattened” and that anti-Covid-19 operations are moving into the “recovery” phase.
It was the same day Perikatan Nasional said the MCO will be relaxed and that most business activities, except those that depend on large crowds and close physical contact, may resume on May 4 (tomorrow).
Although new cases shot up to 105 yesterday, Noor Hisham said Putrajaya’s decision stands and that the authorities will not hesitate to place any area that shows an irregular spike under an enhanced MCO.
But despite the progress made in fighting Covid-19, some authorities, such as the police and immigration, appear to be regressing, with large-scale raids conducted against undocumented migrants.
Civil society groups criticised the operation as running counter to efforts to maintain social distancing. It also sends the wrong message to undocumented migrants yet to be tested by the authorities.
Azrul said the dragnet was unfair to a vulnerable community whose labour contributed to the economy.
“This population exists among us. They work with us. To protect everyone, we must also look into their health and welfare.
“Covid-19 is not solely a migrant issue. It never has been. It would be a mistake to look at it that way,” he said, adding that the new normal should include how one viewed such groups. – May 3, 2020.