Former deputy health minister Dr Lee Boon Chye today said it is no longer possible for the Health Ministry to contain the Covid-19 pandemic as the number of cases and close contacts are too high.
Lee said the number of infections is enormous for a country like Malaysia and it is impossible to trace all contact persons to the 428 persons infected.
He also expects the infection rate to climb.
“The number of cases and contacts is enormous, and it is unlikely the Health Ministry is able to track and isolate all. Hence, containment is no more possible. We should focus on mitigation, i.e. reduce the number of cases and optimise the healthcare resource,” he said in a Facebook post today.
He recommended generating high public awareness and upgrading the skills of the local healthcare personnel in dealing with the pandemic, as the second wave of infections begins to spread throughout the country.
The number of reported cases in the country rose to 428, with 190 fresh infections on Sunday alone. Among the Patients Under Investigations (PUI) are Human Rights Commissioners, a politician, academics and corporate managers as well as delivery workers.
He urged the ministry to only allow hospitals to treat the severe cases of Covid-19, while mild cases and PUI should be placed in isolation at special hotels or hostels.
As for the skills, Lee called for immediate crash courses for the healthcare workers, and the rush to purchase adequate equipment and medication as well as to enlarge facilities to fight the viral bug.
Lee said major gathering points from schools to institutions of higher learning and pre-schools as well as mass gatherings should be prohibited.
He also said public transport, transport terminals and government office should have disinfection regularly, and overseas travel should be discouraged.
Putrajaya should ensure there is sufficient supply of face masks and food items – with limit on purchase, he said.
He added the purpose of these control measures is to delay or prevent severe outbreaks until effective treatment is discovered as possible vaccines are still at least a year away while waiting for summer in the northern hemisphere by which the infection will hopefully reduce tremendously.
He advised the public to also regularly wash their hands, practice social distancing and work from home as much as possible.
“Make sure office environment maintains good ventilation and keep air-conditioning at high ambient temperature. Frequent disinfection at office and common areas.”
Former Penang health committee chairman Dr Afif Bahardin has echoed Lee’s suggestion. He wants social distancing measures to be adopted.
He also urged the public to abide by the public health guidelines.