KOTA KINABALU: While an increasing number of countries have lifted some restrictions and relaxed some rules that were introduced to keep the Covid-19 virus at bay, the question now is whether Malaysia should also follow suit.
In one word, the answer is NO. At least not yet.
Prevention is always better than cure.
The Omicron variant is highly contagious. We are seeing the number of daily infections soar. It has been estimated that the figure could hit 30,000 a day by the end of this month.
In some countries, the number of daily infections has reached 90,000 per day.
We must do everything possible to avoid reaching anywhere close to that figure.
Granted, the Omicron variant is less virulent than the previous Delta virus but why chance it? And very soon, if we cannot prevent it, we may have to deal with with a new variant IHU which has now emerged in France
We must continue to always wear masks outside our homes, follow physical distancing and sanitise our hands frequently.
There should be no let-up on these rules even as some of our movement restrictions have been relaxed. In fact, it is the more reason now than before to follow the SOPs. There is no better alternative.
We must always be vigilant and be on the lookout for new threats. The enemy we are facing is invisible and so we cannot predict in which direction it will go or what form it will take.
It is disturbing, to say the least, to hear that in China the authorities have discovered several Covid-19 cases that were suspected to be traced to contaminated goods from overseas.
Such a possibility was not known before. Does this mean we now have to introduce new measures to sanitise all the goods that are currently being ordered online and physically delivered to our homes and offices?
This is the more reason why we cannot let our guard down.
The authorities must continue to take quick and stern action against those who violate the SOPs that are still effective and in place.
