YOURSAY | ‘Covid-19 situation now is critical and beyond control’

YOURSAY | ‘You either do lockdowns or extremely strict SOPs with proper enforcement.’

DG: Health system at breaking point, targeted MCO proposed

Pokokelapa: The healthcare system is not at breaking point, it has gone far beyond that. Simply put, the Covid-19 situation now is critical and beyond control. Nobody knows what is happening and what to do.

The targeted movement control order (MCO) as suggested by Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah will fail because the virus has spread everywhere.

Even worse, there has been no foresight, knowing very well that this will be the state of affairs. There is too much foot-dragging.

A full MCO like the one in March will be the only way to control the current spread. Just asking people with symptoms to stay at home will not work.

Let us not fool around with this virus. It can turn very deadly once there is an exponential rise, which we are beginning to see.

This will increase the risk of mutation, and increase mortality and morbidity if treatments are delayed due to the collapse of the healthcare system. It is going to severely affect other non-Covid-19 patients too.

Remember, there are delayed effects of the infection, now being seen in countries with high case numbers. This is one of the main reasons the UK has imposed a total lockdown for seven weeks.

The DG is not putting pressure on the government, which is busy politicking. Pussyfooting and politicking are leading us towards disaster, by which time the vaccine may be useless in containing the pandemic in our country.

RedHare6047: Anyone remember the time when the Sabah election was days away and the number of cases was rising? Remember what the Health DG said?

That's right, he said: "Whatever happens after, we will handle it." Well, guess what? Congratulations, we are all “handling” it till today.

But this isn't necessarily just to point fingers at the DG. We ourselves need to practise some common sense. The last time when we had three-digit cases per day, we were already freaking out. Streets were dead empty.

Now, we have four-digit cases every day, breaking new records daily, and people are still out holidaying for Christmas and New Year as though the pandemic is over.

Come on, people. I get it you're tired and sick of staying in. I get it that our ministers are not doing what they should be. But we should still be sensible.

For those of you who absolutely cannot work at home, then you have no choice. But for the rest of us, isolate unless necessary, please. It's for your sake and everyone's.

Getting infected is not as simple as just suffering for a few days and recovering. There are permanent damage and unknown long-term side effects. So, please think about your health.

Just because the government is too incompetent to do so does not mean we can't do it ourselves.

Velarooks: Indeed, it's getting ridiculous. This last week alone, places that I would usually visit have all had Covid cases. My office block, gym, my Tesco, my backup supermarket, my brother's condo and my dentist clinic.

The government needs to do something. Lockdown or whatever, the current (lack of) strategy needs to change.

I, like the majority of people, do not want to see full lockdowns but at the very least where's the enforcement of simple standard operating procedures (SOPs)? You either do lockdowns or you do extremely strict SOPs with proper enforcement.

Right now, I am not seeing anything besides closures of cinemas, clubs, live events and certain sports activities. How does that hope to solve anything?

I've been going out minimally for the last few months - twice a week for work and essential shopping. But the last week of December, I had no Internet at home and Telekom Malaysia took two weeks to fix it. During that time, I had to go out to access the Internet for work.

To my shock, Kuala Lumpur was packed with the holiday crowd as if there was no pandemic. Malls and restaurants were pretty much full. My social media showed countless of people holidaying around Malaysia and having Christmas and New Year’s Eve parties.

The government needs to get its message and enforcement right or lock things down again.

P Ramlee: Like it or not, I think the interstate travels must stop immediately. I have seen many visitors in Penang lately and presumed some of them are from Selangor and other red zones. They will spread Covid-19 like a wildfire.

Similarly, many innocent travellers to red zones will bring home Covid-19. There is no way we can control the spread if everyone continues to move around the country freely.

For many kampung folks, they may have presumed that it's safe to travel since the government allowed it.

Constitution Is Supreme: Targeted enhanced MCO? DG, it’s too little too late. The virus is already widespread in the community. Nevertheless, it’s better late than never.

Noor Hisham said he had faith in the government making the right call. As the highest-ranking officer to lead our fight against the virus and to contain its spread, this is not good enough.

You are expected to call on the government to immediately implement the targeted enhanced MCO before it becomes a disaster like in the UK and US. You cannot play the ‘good boy’ role and please the government as in the last two months.

Please tell the truth. Our respect for your professionalism and expertise is almost zero with you giving excuses like there were enough beds for new patients but not enough ambulance to pick them up.

Noor Hisham, please do the right effective thing.

Apa Nama: DG, let me tell you something about our healthcare system. I have always held our healthcare at high esteem and speak well of it to relatives and friends abroad.

Where else in this world could you pay RM1 to get all the best treatment plus medication as an outpatient? Only in Malaysia.

For specialist treatment, it is RM5. The benefits outweigh the disadvantages. The lifespan of men and women in Malaysia has increased since the implementation of this affordable policy.

However, today we can see the very best system at the brink of breaking down or even collapse due to the greed of politicians.

The frontliners are honest, hardworking and dedicated. But the politicians, and some among the public, behave irresponsibly and are not disciplined.

DG, it is time to use the stick instead of carrot! You have my support.

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