PETALING JAYA: Malaysia is about to set to return to its pre-Covid-19 conditions, but with a difference.
Malaysians will have to wear masks, practise safe distancing and other health measures if they have an infection, or if they are high-risk individuals in crowded areas.
“The new protocols allow Malaysians to return to pre-Covd-19 times, but with all the public health knowledge and preventive measures internalised in them,” said Prof Dr Moy Foong Ming of Universiti Malaya’s Department of Social and Preventive Medicine.
She was commenting on the latest SOP announced by the Health Ministry as the country moves towards endemicity.
With the choice given back to the people, Dr Moy said people should weigh their own risks while co-existing with the virus.
“When they are infected or if there is an outbreak in their community, they should practise those old measures.
“The new SOP gives people the choice to put on a mask or not. Of course, those who test positive must wear a mask.
“Those in contact with patients in a hospital also need to wear a mask.
“The non-high-risk people may need to practise precaution because they can infect the high-risk persons around them, like elderly, pregnant women or immunocompromised individuals,” she said in an interview yesterday.
Prof Moy also called on the government to keep watch on any new variants globally.
Family physician Dr Raj Kumar Maharajah also said it was important to be wary of new variants.
“I support the government’s move to enforce masks for those infected. In other countries, we can see people have taken off their masks,” he said.
Dr Raj Kumar, the former president of the Medical Practitioners Coalition Association of Malaysia, said Covid-19 had become like a “common flu” now, with a significant decrease in the number of new cases and deaths.
“We should move forward, but without letting our guard down. When infected, just stay at home.
“We must be more responsible, and maintain hygiene,” he said, adding that there was no harm in continuing to use the mask outdoors.
