Surge in Covid-19 cases spurs calls for reinforced preventive measures

KUCHING: The recent surge in Covid-19 cases has prompted growing concerns among health professionals.

To gain insights into this alarming trend, New Sarawak Tribune engaged in conversations with doctors, seeking their expert opinions and advice.

The focus of these discussions revolves around whether the government should consider re-implementing mask mandates as a preventive measure.

Public Health Medicine Specialist, Dr Helmy Hazmi stated that the immunity derived from vaccination is waning, given that more than a year has passed since the last vaccine dose.

“Additionally, changes in the virus’s genetic makeup have given rise to highly infectious variants.

“Moreover, people are neglecting the 3Cs and 3Ws, becoming comfortable with not wearing masks, including those who are unwell,” he added.

Wearing masks has been an effective tool during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, and it continues to be so. 

This practice, along with other personal strategies like hand washing, social distancing, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, provides a multi-layered approach to prevent the spread of Covid-19 to others.

Recall the Swiss Cheese model of disease prevention: no single method is 100 percent effective against infection.

“However, by combining all these modalities, we can approach near-total protection. We have to fall back on the main advice that was given during the time when restrictions were beginning to loosen and in preparation to face the pandemic,” he said.

The mask is best utilised in crowded places such as concerts, during the pasar malam visit where you are jam-packed and yelling just to hear each other, or when you are in a closed or confined space like in public transport, offices, and local kedai runcit.

“But if you are more than 60 years old and have underlying medical conditions, or if you are pregnant, you are in that special group of people that will have to take the use of masks seriously.

“It is crucial to maintain a sensitive and responsive surveillance system. We also need to continue training our team to ensure competence at all levels.

“However, we must be alert to signs that may indicate increased virulence, such as a rise in the percentage of severe cases, an increase in the death rate, or the emergence of a peculiar strain. It is my hope that we will never reach that point,” he said.