By Stephen Ng
THE number of COVID-19 cases have shot up to 3,332 cases yesterday (April 29), with over a thousand cases reported in the state of Selangor alone.
A simple calculation shows that 1.5% of our population have at one point or another been tested positive. This figure alone means nothing until we see people within our family or circle of friends being tested positive.
Unconsciously, because of the need to open up the economy, everyone is now taking it easy, thinking that COVID-19 only affects other people except themselves.
Therefore, with some care and precautions, we think we can overcome the spread of the virus. Checking of temperatures, social distancing and wearing of masks before entering shopping malls is nothing but a fad that gives us a false sense of safety.
I am told by reliable sources that temperature checks, for example, can only detect 20% of the COVID-19 cases, especially when these days the virus has mutated to an extent that COVID-19 positive cases may not show any symptoms until the final stages.
To revise the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) will mean more gadgets being installed at the expense of business owners and at this time, there are no gadgets that are really foolproof.
As I understand it, even the breath analyser from Singapore is not necessarily effective as claimed by some.
All I can say now is that we must not have a false sense of safety when we think we have done our temperature checks before entering any public places or having our usual big meetings.
Don’t let our guard down
This is why I’m urging the public to be extra cautious when it comes to fighting with the unseen enemy. It is far more potent that we can all imagine.
Education is far more important than the hefty fines imposed on simple traders, and I cannot understand now, why the law enforcers are blamed by lawmakers who amended the law under the Emergency Act.
India is now languishing with the death of thousands of its citizens due to the pandemic. The situation in India, according to friends, is beyond control.
In Malaysia, we have to take stringent measures to ensure that we are not hit with the next wave. I cannot help but to express my concern when I see people are still apathetic towards the pandemic and how the mutated virus can be more potent than before.
This is why I agree with the National Security Council for imposing stricter targeted control movement orders on hot spots. Interstate restricted movement should also be respected by all to ensure that the virus does not spread.
Students should revert to online learning especially in states where there is already a widespread number of cases. Of course, 3,332 cases nationwide is nothing alarming if compared to the entire population, but who would like to see our next of kin or even ourselves be part of the statistics?
If in Malaysia the VIPs get a special treatment, with an eye closed on the number of reported cases of VIPs flouting the SOPs, in Thailand recently, the Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was fined US$190 for not wearing a mask during a government meeting.
With COVID-19, no one is spared. Even Minister of Multimedia Communications, Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah is now with the reality of the bug. I am sure this will not be the only case of COVID-19 positive case affecting our VIPs judging from the way some of them have flouted the SOPs.
Stephen Ng is an ordinary Malaysian who has contributed his thoughts on a number of issues to stimulate the country’s thinking public.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
