YOURSAY | KJ’s heads-up a timely reminder on remaining vigilant

YOURSAY | ‘Knowing that Covid is here to stay should motivate us to be on guard.’

KJ sounds early warning over rising Klang Valley Covid-19 hospitalisations

Mazilamani: It is good that Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has sounded the warning early to put us on alert.

Just because we had taken the vaccine does not mean that life can return to normal as before the Covid-19 pandemic. There are standard operating procedures (SOPs) that need to be followed. Many have started taking them lightly.

We may justify our reasons to travel, dine in crowded restaurants, shop at malls, visit family and friends, hold family gatherings, but how sure are we of keeping ourselves and others safe and protected?

Are the activities or travels necessary knowing that we may be unlucky to pick up the virus from someone else and spread it to family members or friends?

As for factories and businesses being open, it is the duty of employers that SOPs are closely observed and Covid tests are conducted as imposed by the government.

The temporary closure of businesses has caused many problems for workers, households, employers, the government and economy. Knowing that Covid is here to stay should motivate us to be on guard.

Now that a festival holiday is coming in two weeks, more people may decide to travel outstation - the choice is ours, let us not divert the blame to anyone else.

BlueShark1548: Khairy should explain why there is an increase in hospitalisation in addition to his warnings.

The public must know why after vaccination of over 90 percent of the adult population and the Health Ministry’s explanation that vaccination would result in less serious cases and fewer hospitalisations, the situation appears to be worsening.

Khairy and his ministry are not disclosing the full facts to the public, which is regrettable. If there is full disclosure, the public could take steps to address the issue.

How many of the fully vaccinated hospitalised? And why?

We will never overcome the Covid problems if the government hides material information from us. What about the results of the ivermectin trials conducted by the ministry? It was supposed to be announced this month.

Anonymous 79: Yes, I thought more than 90 percent of the adult population has already been vaccinated.

For breakthrough cases requiring hospitalisation, may we know what type of vaccine the patients received? Please be more transparent.

YellowLion0342: Pfizer's antibody levels drop over time while Sinovac isn't that high in the first place so there is a need for booster shots to "top them up".

Fair Malaysian: Khairy did not mention whether the increase is caused by the unvaccinated or involved those who have already completed their vaccinations.

Until he is able to furnish this information, he should stop "bullying" those who have yet to be vaccinated or do not want to be vaccinated with restrictions placed on the unvaccinated.

My gut feeling is that the cause may not be all related to the anti-vaccination group. With the hard position Khairy has taken against the anti-vaxxers, he may not wish to spare any anti-vaxxers if they have caused the infection.

Whether herd immunity is working or not, the herd mentality is indeed working.

Agus: I thought cases are down, and vaccinations are over 90 percent. So, what is happening? Are tests not being conducted and we have walking carriers around us?

Singapore is issuing rapid test kits to school children and requiring regular self-testing. India is giving home kits too. Indonesia is giving Moderna now. What is Malaysia doing?

Determined Sarawakian: @Agus, Singapore's population is 84 percent vaccinated and yet, infections are rising.

I repeat this again - it doesn't mean that when you are vaccinated, you will not get Covid. You can still get infected. The thing is that your illness is less severe and mortality is mitigated.

The sure way is to keep wearing masks, be disciplined with social distancing, wash hands regularly and sanitise.

The virus will only not be a threat when it can no longer mutate and perhaps in the near future new vaccines and medications would have been further invented to curb the virus. But before these are available, the new normal is to follow the SOPs as stated above.

YellowKancil4539: CovidNow data as at Oct 21 showed that there were 2,187 Covid deaths of fully vaccinated individuals in the past two months.

This averages about 36 deaths a day. Clearly, vaccination cannot be seen as the final solution.

PurpleTrout9000: Indonesia’s vaccination rate is less than 35 percent. Their seven-day average of Covid cases is less than 1,000 and deaths less than 50. This is after reopening!

Why is Indonesia so successful? Khairy must find out more and not just blindly follow western models.

Singapore and UK are seeing a resurgence of cases despite high vaccination rates. If Malaysia follows the Singapore and UK example, we will also see a resurgence. Instead, please look at Indonesia.

Jazli Salleh: Don't just depend on the health minister to solve our problems. All the cabinet ministers should instead "turun padang" (go on the ground) and educate the masses about Covid safety.

Remember you're receiving a big fat paycheck every month and you should ask yourself how you're helping to keep the rakyat safe.

All we hear now is the Malacca elections, Timah whiskey, Nur Sajat Kamaruzzaman and all other stupid political stuff, and not on how to keep the rakyat safe.  - Mkini