Don’t repeat CNY mistakes during Hari Raya, say health experts

 

Revellers at a Chinese New Year party. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Health experts have called for diligence from relevant authorities during the Hari Raya season to prevent a spike in Covid-19 infections.

They say there is a lesson to be learnt from the surge in cases in Sarawak just after the Chinese New Year celebrations in February.

Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Dr Subramaniam Muniandy said the risk of people letting their guard down during festive gatherings remained a concern.

Just before Chinese New Year, which fell on Feb 12, Sarawak reported about 160 cases a day. But two weeks later, on Feb 25, case numbers hit a new record of 353.

“Enforcement will be more difficult during festive periods. So, any lifting of restrictions needs to be controlled with the right SOPs,” Subramaniam told FMT.

He added that any decision on lifting restrictions must be supported by scientific data.

Former deputy health minister Dr Lee Boon Chye agreed that large gatherings should be avoided.

“Any large gathering where the wearing of masks is not practical, like lunch or dinner gatherings, is still not advisable at this juncture,” he said. “Household gatherings should be limited to not more than 20 people at any one time to ensure physical distancing.

“The public should also be advised to limit social visits to relatives and friends to less than 30 minutes.”

In February, Sarawak local government and housing minister Dr Sim Kui Hian said contact tracing in the state indicated that social gatherings at bistros, restaurants and private residences coinciding with the Chinese New Year period were the main factors for the new cases, especially in the Kuching and Samarahan districts.

Thirty-three Covid-19 clusters remain active in Sarawak as of March 30, according to the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee. Eight of those clusters continue to record new cases.

Speaking to FMT, Lee urged the government to come up with clearer, more practical and consistent SOPs for Hari Raya to prevent confusion.

He said the numbers of people allowed in mosques should be restricted to ensure physical distancing and to prevent super spreader events.

But he said he was not too worried about Ramadan and Hari Raya bazaars. “Bazaars are relatively low-risk because they are usually held outdoors, and visitors usually spend a short time at such places.”

He also said any decision to open state borders should be carefully considered. When interstate travel was allowed in the past, the number of cases increased as a result of travel during festivals.

“Restrictions of movement should be for areas where community transmission is high. Residents from areas with high community transmission rates should not be allowed to travel freely.”

Subramaniam said it should not be left to the government alone to keep infection rates low.

“The people must know they still have an important part to play in keeping infections down and flattening the curve,” he said.

“If interstate travel is allowed and people can return to their hometowns, they must act responsibly in protecting each other, especially elderly persons and others in high-risk groups. The only way to do that is to adhere strictly to SOPs.” - FMT