The following article is sent to the editorial of MalaysiaGazette by reader, Hafiz Hassan.
Will it be a “total lockdown”?
The debate on whether to implement the “total lockdown” has been hotly discussed by Malaysians especially after the record number of 6,075 new Covid-19 cases two days ago. Yesterday, new Covid-19 infections surged to a further 6,806 cases in the last 24-hour period as Malaysia breached the 50,000 daily active cases mark.
Meanwhile, several local media reported that de facto law minister Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan said the National Security Council (NSC) will deliberate today on whether to implement “total lockdown” in the face of rising Covid-19 cases and deaths in the country.
Government to discuss about full MCO tomorrow – Takiyuddin
The country has imposed the movement control order (MCO) since March 18 last year in several ‘variants’ – like the Covid-19 variants. There has been MCO, conditional MCO (CMCO), recovery MCO (RMCO) and enhanced MCO (EMCO).
Malaysians agree that MCO is the right thing to do but with the flip flops, the MCO has been mocked as “making confusing orders”. The MCO ‘variants’ are mocked as well, as “continue making confusing orders” (CMCO), “repeatedly making confusing orders” (RMCO) and “even more confusing orders” (EMCO).
So, let’s do things differently. Let’s move away from the negativities. Let’s start anew.
The United Kingdom has a 5-level, colour-coded alert level system which was unveiled a year ago in May 2020. Coronavirus: How does the Covid-19 alert level system work?
New Zealand has a 4-level Covid-19 Alert System. Like the UK system, each level informs the public what measures need to be taken. Alert Levels and updates
Neighbouring Singapore has put in place in prevention and response plans when there is an outbreak of infectious diseases. As part of this plan, a colour-coded framework called the ‘Disease Outbreak Response System Condition’ (DORSCON) is adopted to show the current disease situation. The framework provides the public with general guidelines on what needs to be done to prevent and reduce the impact of infections. What do the different DORSCON levels mean
What can we have?
If I may suggest, let’s have DOAS – Disease Outbreak Alert System (SAPP – Sistem Amaran Penularan Penyakit). It may be a colour-coded, 4-level (like NZ and Singapore) or 5-level (like UK) system. Each level informs the public what needs to be done to prevent and reduce the impact of infections.
Leave it to public health experts on the measures for each level, which are then supported by clear rules or regulations – not standard operating procedures (SOP). SOPs are not law; they are guidelines, which is why they are more prone to be flip-flopped.
Let’s listen to the experts. Let’s do things differently.
This time. Once and for all. #doitdifferently #onceandforall
Hafiz Hassan
