Advice on Public Health

Arkib : 02 Mei 2020

Advice from Tan Sri Dr Jemilah Mahmood - special advisor to Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on public health

1. MCOs are not to end COVID but flatten the curve.  And we have. We flatten the curve to ensure health systems are protected and able to cope. 
2. Our health systems can cope. More than enough ventilators etc. Utilisation capacity now only 30% and in fact KKM starting to give front liners leave.  Most cases 80% are mild.
3. COVID will not end for next two years.  There will be small spikes and must not panic but aggressive tracing and quarantine and treatment.
4. When there is a spike in an area an enhance MCO very localised to the area can be implemented immediately.
5. Enforcement will be important to ensure compliance. Both from government but also self enforcement - individual, community, companies.
6. Pandemics can be ended only when whole of society participated and is empowered. If you see something say something. Report to the police etc.
7. Economic impact and mental health is important. We have to face the bitter challenges of MCO and COVID but only if we pull together in the same direction we can win this.
8. The new normal is a reality.  Stay home as much as you can. Keep a safe distance and wear a mask. 
9. We need to live with COVID. Just as we need to live with dengue.  All the preventive measures and early detection and treatment.
10. A vaccine at earliest may be available next year. Herd immunity is questionable as data on antibodies is still showing low conversion rate. So travel is limited.
11. Don’t compare Malaysia with Hokkaido. When they opened up they didn’t protect borders. Malaysia is protecting her borders. This is critical and one of requisites of WHO.  We have taken steps beyond what was done in Japan as we have learnt from their experience.
12. The report by Chinese experts who came said we are ready. According to WHO criteria we have met most of them

I get many questions if the MCO was eased a little too early. Below are my standard responses so you may want to share with your family and friends.