How is everyone coping during this MCO 3.0 “Total Lockdown” period? It seems that many of us are at our wits’ end; which begs the question – when can we experience normal life again?
Yesterday (Sunday, 13th june), Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that the government can only consider to loosen existing SOPs when our daily Covid-19 infections drop below 4,000.
He said:
“I have been informed by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba and its director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah that when the cases are down to 4,000, we will review the MCO. It does not mean we will end the MCO but may review the SOPs to determine which ones can be relaxed a bit.
“However, the MOH will see and advise the National Security Council (MKN) at its (coming) special meeting to see what we can do when the infection level goes down to 4,000 cases or below. We do not promise to end it or anything else, but just getting advice.”
During the implementation of “Total Lockdown”, 3 phases were considered. Once the Covid-19 pandemic in Malaysia improves, phase 2 will see more business sectors reopening. If daily cases continue to decrease, then perhaps most economic sectors can reopen (under strict SOP).
As it stands now, the country’s daily cases are still over 5,000 with the current phase 1 of lockdown being extended till 28th June 2021. The number of fatalities remains high with these following stats:
- An average of 79 deaths per day over the past week
- Currently more than 900 Covid-19 patients in ICU (452 people requiring ventilators)
The goal is, of course, to achieve herd immunity. According to Bernama, PM Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is hopeful that the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya can achieve that by August. “It is time we want to set an exit strategy or National Recovery Plan for us to get out of this problem, but this is a big challenge depending on the cooperation and support of all parties,” he said.
Kerajaan rangka Pelan Pemulihan Negara, sebagai persiapan negara keluar daripada pandemik COVID-19 – PM @MuhyiddinYassin pic.twitter.com/zNhkOmiqNT
— BERNAMA (@bernamadotcom) June 13, 2021
Dr Adham has also stated that “Malaysia would be able to inoculate 80% of its population and reach herd immunity by December“. Let’s see if that happens…
Sources: MMO, The Straits Times.
