PETALING JAYA: Health experts have welcomed the government’s move to loosen Covid-19 SOPs from next month, calling it a key step in the country’s transition to the endemic phase of the virus.
Health minister Khairy Jamaluddin today announced a slew of new relaxed Covid-19 rules and SOPs starting May 1. It includes not having to wear face masks outdoors and no more physical distancing.
Also, from Sunday, MySejahtera check-ins will no longer be required for entering premises and public areas, while entry to all premises will be allowed regardless of vaccination status.
Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Dr Koh Kar Chai described the SOP relaxations as another positive development in the management of the pandemic as the country moves closer to endemicity, stating that the country’s SOPs “cannot be in a state of perpetuity”.
“Overall, we view the relaxed SOPs as a practical step, especially in this phase of the pandemic where more normalcy will help revive our economy as well as relieve the mental stress that has accompanied us since the beginning of the pandemic,” he said in a statement.
Koh also agreed with the decision to drop the requirement for MySejahtera check-ins, stating that the app is no longer needed for contact tracing as Covid-19 has long been circulating in the community.
He added that the relaxation on testing requirements for travellers entering the country is an accepted practice in many countries that have also opened their borders to travellers.
Though there is some flexibility on the wearing of face masks when outdoors, Koh stressed that many children are still not vaccinated – while older adults and those with comorbidities can still be at risk of severe Covid-19.
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) virologist Dr Kumitaa Theva Das also agreed with the removal of the face masks rule outdoors. She said that numerous countries across the world have also made it optional.
“We are seeing many countries making this decision in transitioning to endemicity,” she said.
“We also know that there is better ventilation outdoors, reducing the risk of transmission in comparison to an enclosed crowded location. This is why many countries have removed the outdoor mandate, but retained indoor mask-wearing.”
She also highlighted a study published recently which showed that it was almost 20 times more likely for transmissions to occur indoors compared with outdoors.
Agreeing with the move to end MySejahtera check-ins, Kumitaa noted that many malls now require customers to only check-in at the main entrance – as opposed to individual stores.
Meanwhile, former deputy health minister Dr Lee Boon Chye said while he agreed with the lifting of the outdoor face masks rule, he felt it was premature to forgo checking in with MySejahtera.
Stating that the public would become complacent with the removal of the mask mandate and MySejahtera checking in, he warned that it might be difficult to reintroduce the use of the app once it has been phased out.
“We should still be on the lookout for new variants. In the event there is a significant variant, do we then activate the MySejahtera contact tracing,” he said.
“There will always be a lag time. It’s better to keep the MySejahtera check-in for a few months until the World Health Organization declares the pandemic is over.”
Source: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2022/04/27/health-experts-welcome-loosening-of-covid-19-sops-from-may-1/