MELAKA: When the Covid-19 pandemic hit the country in March last year, hand sanitiser and face masks became among the most-sought after items in the m.
Experts back full lockdown in Selangor Veena Babulal KUALA LUMPUR: As increasing Covid-19 infections wreak havoc on the country s healthcare system, experts are saying that a full lockdown, similar to the first Movement Control Order, may be the way to curb further spread of the coronavirus.
Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry s (Mosti) Covid-19 Epidemiological Analysis and Strategies Task Force chairman Datuk Dr Awang Bulgiba Awang Mahmud said such a lockdown was necessary for Selangor, where healthcare services appeared to be on the brink of collapse. There is a real danger of an exponential increase in cases, the likes of which we have never seen before, and this could completely overwhelm our healthcare system. We are probably on the brink of something like that.
Gentle reminder: Wearing of facemask is mandatory, says an electronic board targeting visitors at The Pavilion, Kuala Lumpur. FAIHAN GHANI/The Star
PETALING JAYA: Here’s what everybody can do to stop the daily number of Covid-19 cases from spiralling up further.
Health experts are urging the public to practise self-regulated movement restrictions and to avoid going out unnecessarily.
Daily Covid-19 cases have recorded more than 2,000 cases for the past eight days, while the current national infectivity rate (R0) is at 1.13.
Kelantan recorded the highest R0 at 1.45, followed by Kuala Lumpur at 1.27 and Negri Sembilan at 1.23 as of Friday.
Universiti Putra Malaysia medical epidemiologist Assoc Prof Dr Malina Osman said to prevent a further rise in infection, the public should avoid going out and being involved in activities that require a person to be in a situation where they need to take off their masks. “This is based on our self-assessment as well, and that we should onl
PETALING JAYA: The less-than-ideal uptake in Covid-19 vaccine registration so far is because of trust issues, say medical and public health experts.
They attribute the low numbers to the circulation of dubious information including hearsay, and have called on the government to utilise all its resources to clear any doubts and instil trust in the vaccines among the public.
Universiti Malaya professor of occupational and public health Prof Dr Victor Hoe said some people had the misconception that the vaccines were unsafe or that some were better than others.
“When I held community engagements with residents, I found there were still many people who did not trust the safety of the vaccines. They were worried about possible adverse effects of taking the vaccines.
PETALING JAYA: Access to a variety of vaccines makes fighting the Covid-19 pandemic that much easier and health experts are hoping that more people in the country can get their immunisation sooner.
Universiti Malaya occupational and public health expert Prof Dr Victor Hoe said having more choices of vaccines was good for the country.
He was responding to news that the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine had met the requirements for emergency use in the United States and will be approved soon.
“As we know there are different variants of the SARS-Cov-2 from different regions of the world, and some vaccines are more efficacious against certain variants. It will be good for the country and globally to have access to various vaccines, ” he said.