COVID-19: MCO as last resort only if situation out of control - Public health specialist

KUALA LUMPUR: The government's decision not to implement the Movement Control Order (MCO) despite the soaring number of COVID-19 cases is considered an appropriate step.

According to the President of the Malaysian Association of Public Health Specialists, Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar, the implementation of MCO can affect the economic landscape and learning in the country.

Instead, he said, the MCO should be the last resort and only implemented if the country was not able to curb the spread in the near future.

"There are several reasons. First, we find that the case is still localized (local transmission) and we see that if our machinery is done correctly and with a trusted method, insya-Allah we can control.

"Secondly, the people do not want MCO. So, this is a right decision because it will affect other lives such as economic activities, learning and so on," he said when interviewed by Astro AWANI here, today.

" MCO is the last resort if we are not able to control the situation in these two or three weeks.

"Currently, the government machinery, enforcement and the public, including volunteers, if we do the work as before, we can control and we do not need MCO," he added.

Dr Zainal Ariffin at the same time supported the government's action to implement the Targeted Enhanced MCO (TEMCO) in several new cluster focus areas in Sabah and Kedah, including Selangor.

He said based on past experience and in Sabah, the implementation of TEMCO was able to curb the spread of larger infections in the community.

"TEMCO needs to be enforced as in Sabah, Kedah and maybe now, in some places in Selangor, such as the Jalan Meru Cluster, new clusters and other districts where cases are high.

"So, that should be carried out and it can effectively prevent bigger infections," he said.

Currently, the government is implementing TEMCO administratively in the Alor Setar Prison area, including staff quarters, for 14 days effective from 12.01 midnight Tuesday (Oct 6).

On Sept 30, Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced the implementation of TEMCO from Sept 29 to Oct 12 in four districts in Sabah, namely Tawau, Kunak, Semporna and Lahad Datu.

Meanwhile, Dr Zainal Ariffin agreed the negligence and complacency of certain groups in adopting the standard operating procedure (SOP) of the new norm has led to the emergence of a new wave of COVID-19 in the country.

"Honestly, we must agree that the situation at this time is due to the negligence and complacency of certain groups to adopt the new norm SOP. We do not want there to be spaces or holes like this anymore," he added

Yesterday, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in a Special Message on the Current Situation of COVID-19 said the government has not planned to re-implement MCO.