KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (June 27): According to economists, Malaysia’s guiding principles should be the level of transmission in the community, the capacity of the public healthcare system, and the population’s vaccination rate before entering another phase of the National Recovery Plan (NRP), a four-phase exit strategy from the Covid-19 crisis. They believe that, even if these threshold indicators are satisfied and fully functioning, standard operating procedures (SOPs) should be part of Malaysian society’s norms, at least for the time being.
Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid, chief economist of Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd, stated that everyone should play their part in adhering to the SOPs while also being vaccinated to help speed up the economic recovery process.
“I believe we will be able to return to our normal daily routines,” he told Bernama, “but for the time being, we must adhere to this guiding concept in order to progress to the next level.”
On June 15, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced a four-phased NRP with three specific threshold indicators to determine whether and when Covid-19 pandemic restrictions will be eased in stages.
The community’s Covid-19 transmission level, the capacity of the public healthcare system, and the population’s vaccination rate are the threshold indicators.
The first phase of this tiered approach is the introduction of a statewide Movement Control Order (MCO), which is now in place due to the high daily cases, a critical public health system, and a low vaccination rate.
Despite the fact that the government has established certain targets such as dates and times, the number of cases, immunization milestones, and the use of intensive care unit (ICU) beds, Muhyiddin claims that the situation is always changing.
“It (the NRP) includes what we call threshold values…but we have to understand that the situation evolves, so we may make minor adjustments,” he recently explained.
The nation should enter the second phase, according to the NRP, by enabling economic sectors to operate in stages, with 80 percent capacity after daily Covid-19 cases drop below 4,000.
As of Saturday, Malaysia had registered 5,803 new cases, breaking the 5,000 mark for the fourth day in a row, bringing the total number of positive cases in the country to 728,462. Today, 81 more deaths were reported, bringing the total number of deaths to 4,884.
Many dreams, particularly for manufacturers, to resume operations purportedly after June 28, 2021, when the Full MCO expires, have been dashed (FMCO).
The FMCO would most likely be prolonged for another two weeks, according to IMAN Research director of programs Badrul Hisham Ismail and Research for Social Advancement (REFSA) communications director Raja Ahmad Iskandar Fareez.
“Even with the FMCO in place, workplace clusters are still prevalent, accounting for more than 65 percent of recorded instances since June 1.”
The return of the outbreak in the United Kingdom due to new varieties also demonstrated how a country’s economy and social sectors cannot be guaranteed simply by vaccinating a majority of its population.
They stated, “An alternate exit option is desperately needed.”
Are existing SOPs adequate?
According to the researchers, factors that contribute to workplace clusters must be addressed, and aside from enforcement issues, the government must determine whether existing SOPs are adequate to prevent any outbreaks from potential cases on premises that could endanger employees’ lives and disrupt operations.
To encourage adoption, the government should provide financial assistance to companies for “pandemic-proof” workstations and living quarters.
“SOPs should be science-based and dynamic, updated regularly with input from industry participants, other stakeholders, and evidence from the field, rather than a one-size-fits-all arbitrary gauge of workplace capacities.
“However, because scientific results indicate that the virus is airborne, the government should focus on updating SOPs to guarantee that commercial premises improve indoor air quality, thereby limiting transmission,” they added.
The most obvious action that may be done, according to the researchers, is to incentivize through linked tax deductions or subsidies, as well as the installation of appropriate sensors and ventilation systems at businesses.
“The usage of smart technology, such as automated doors, motion sensored lights, or other ‘no touch technologies’ for switches and handles, should also be encouraged.”
This could limit high-traffic touchpoints and prevent virus transmission from person to person.”
They also suggested that a work rotation system, such as one week at the office and one week at home, or more flexible working hours and shifts, may be used to avoid overcrowding at workplaces.
Operating hours for public transportation and other public venues can also be extended for the same reason.
Call for more vigilance.
Dr Mohammad Tawfik Yaakub, a senior lecturer at the University of Malaya, said the government has a sound plan, but there is potential for improvement in terms of implementation.
“We now have overlapping jurisdictions and directives, which is causing uncertainty not just among economic parties but also among the general public.
“And if the economy is gradually extended to other sectors,” he continued, “I am concerned that the situation will worsen through the industrial cluster.”
Mohammad Tawfik also advised the government to take harsher measures against those who break the SOPs.
“Aside from punishing them with a large fine, the individual should be publicized in the print media in order to teach others to be more vigilant in cases of SOP violations.
“Some persons who actively breach the SOPs and merely pay the compound can no longer be tolerated by the citizens,” he said.
As a result, he believes Malaysia may gradually reduce day-to-day incidents by being proactive and developing systems to cope with the current dangerous situations.
“Aside from that, the government could accelerate and improve vaccination rollout activities for the economy, particularly the manufacturing sector,” he added.
As an endemic illness, Covid-19
Malaysia has set a goal of obtaining herd immunity by vaccinating 80% of its population, or 26.7 million individuals out of a total population of 33 million.
The herd immunity barrier is not attainable, at least not in the near future, according to a majority of scientists and public health specialists.
Instead of making the long-promised escape, they are concluding that the virus will most likely become a manageable menace that will continue to spread in the country for years to come. Continue reading
