By Selangor Journal Team
SHAH ALAM, Oct 26 — The movement control order (MCO) imposed across Malaysia, or a lockdown, is a temporary measure to bring down the number of Covid-19 infections in health facilities but on its own cannot put a stop to the spread of the virus, CodeBlue reported today.
Selangor Task Force for Covid-19 head Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad in an interview told the health news portal that any movement restriction measures in public health during a pandemic or a resurgence of outbreaks play an important role to contain the disease but does not cut down the transmission of the virus.
“l need to stress that lockdowns do not end the pandemic. We do not exit a pandemic with lockdowns. It can only be achieved through the arrival and use of a vaccine or an antiviral agent against the disease of coronavirus infectious disease 2019 or Covid-19.
“Theoretically, lockdowns are a last resort and must be resorted to, tactfully and judiciously, with unambiguous guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOP),” the former Health Minister was quoted by CodeBlue.
Dr Dzulkefly said an increase in testing and other contact tracing measures is a must during a lockdown to curb the local transmission of the disease.
“Given that total elimination of the virus is going to be impossible, another lockdown is a temporary measure accompanied by a comprehensive strategy to minimise the number of infections and deaths through strengthening the public health system, better testing strategy with rapid result turnaround time, advanced contact tracing like isolating before results are out, and clinical case management, including the availability of intensive care unit beds,” said Dr Dzulkefly.
Meanwhile, movement restrictions would help flatten the Covid-19 curve as it is said that some Malaysians do not comply with home quarantine measures, Dr Mustapha Kamal from the Covid-19 response unit in Sungai Buloh Hospital told CodeBlue.
“It has been said and proven during the second wave where we have seen the curve flattening, as per the number of cases decreases. We are hoping with the MCO, the number of cases decreases again. Though, it must be remembered that MCO, in the long run, might jeopardise our country,” Dr Mustapha was quoted by the portal, adding that a nationwide lockdown similar to the MCO enforced in March would be able to slow the increase in the number of cases.
When asked on the significance of a nationwide lockdown compared to a targeted lockdown, Dr Mustapha had cited cities in Penang, Melaka, and Negeri Sembilan to have been declared as red zones due to the rise in infections.
“I think now is a good time to implement the lockdown given that the numbers have dramatically risen ever since the Sabah election. We really need to cut down the spread as it swallows a lot of government budget for managing asymptomatic positive cases,” he was quoted.
Dr Mustapha also noted on the severity of Covid-19 cases in Selangor, as the beds in Sungai Buloh Hospital beds are being occupied by coronavirus patients.
“We have a lot of patients. Almost all wards in the national leprosy control centre (PKKN) are open. In MOH Training Institute (ILKKM) a few wards will be opened. However, we are anticipating full houses should the numbers keep on triple-digit each day,” he added.
