KUCHING: Every decision, whether to relax restrictions on Covid-19 standard operating procedure (SOP) even in endemicity, must be based on data and science, says Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii.
Dr Yii said this following recent calls by Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah that the Ministry of Health (MoH) and Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) remove the compulsory mask mandate.
Based on current knowledge, he said the data now showed that in outdoor, open ventilated areas, the likelihood of the disease spreading was much lower compared to an indoor, less ventilated space.
“So in that sense, if we are outdoors, in a non-congested area, it is somewhat safer not to put on a mask. Such data was used in Singapore’s decision to allow un-masking only in outdoor areas but still has masks mandated indoors, especially in crowded areas such as public transport.
“With that said, data has also shown that an over-relaxed Covid-19 restrictions, especially in other countries, may cause a surge of cases that would overwhelm the healthcare system, diminishing the quality of care for all patients,” Dr Yii said in a social media post on Thursday (April 14).
He added that one of the reasons the country did not see a surge of cases was due to the more conservative SOPs, including compulsory masking.
“So even though data shows less likelihood, it doesn’t mean it can’t spread in outdoor areas, especially in crowded and congested areas.
“That is why I am glad the Malaysian government did not follow Singapore’s approach of un-masking outdoors in view of Ramadan due to congested events such as Ramadan Bazaar.
“With that said, the likelihood is such masking mandates, especially outdoors, will be relaxed especially after the Hari Raya celebration but it does not mean we must put our guard down,” Dr Yii pointed out.
However, he still encouraged everyone, if possible, to put on a mask, especially in congested and crowded areas that are not well ventilated.
“We do not want to see an uncontrollable vertical surge, which has been seen in countries that relaxed their restrictions too drastically, which is typical of Omicron.
“We can’t just assume Omicron is mild, but it also has the risk of overwhelming our healthcare system if not properly handled.”
