MMA wants govt to postpone relaxations for fully vaccinated persons

 

The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) wants the government to postpone the relaxed rules for fully vaccinated individuals which take effect today.

MMA president Dr Subramaniam Muniandy said the relaxed rules should only be implemented when Covid-19 cases are significantly reduced.

Subramaniam (above) questioned the government's decision to relax some rules, such as allowing long-distance spouses to travel interstate to meet.

"If it is indeed a decision based on science, why then is travel allowed for those wishing to see their spouse or their young children?

"Either it’s sufficiently safe for the fully vaccinated to travel, in which case all vaccinated individuals should be allowed to do so, or it is not, in which case nobody should travel," he added.

Subramaniam said the most important indicators are the hospital bed utilisation and intensive care unit (ICU) situation.

"Going forward, we hope that the government will provide an update on the positivity rate and the status of bed utilisation and ICU in each state as these will be more meaningful indicators apart from the daily new cases.

"It is important that the public be kept informed of the bed capacity and ICU status in their respective state," he added.

Subramaniam acknowledged that with increasing vaccination rates, serious case numbers may be trending downward by the end of the month.

He added that any easing of restrictions must also consider the most vulnerable groups.

"Any lifting of restrictions must also take into account high-risk groups such as nursing homes, factory and construction workers, security guards, cleaners, medical students, and undocumented migrant workers who have not been vaccinated," he said.

Beginning today, fully vaccinated individuals will be allowed to pray at places of worship.

Parents who are fully vaccinated will also be allowed to travel interstate to see their under-18 children.

Furthermore, fully vaccinated overseas travellers can quarantine at home upon arriving in Malaysia.

Those in states under Phase 2 and beyond of the National Recovery Plan will also be given additional benefits such as being allowed to dine-in at restaurants and travel across districts. - Mkini