Movement control orders are not the way to defeat Covid-19: Academy of Professors Malaysia (APM)

Here are their suggestions in seven parts:

1. Red Zones with more than 40 new daily cases should continue to be under EMCO, but the rest of the country should return to RMCO. Perhaps these acronyms could best be replaced with number codes in order to avoid the misconceptions.
2. The continued detection of localised outbreaks (clusters) should continue. However, since the Covid-19 infection survival rate is 99.9 per cent for healthy people under 70, to achieve an optimal balance between health, social wellbeing, and the economy, the emphasis should be on "focused protection" and "targeted approach" for those at risk while allowing the less vulnerable to work and go to school. (a) Young and healthy adults and children above the age of 12 should be allowed to go back to school and work. (b) People with co-morbidities regardless of age and the elderly should stay at home. (c) People who go to work and school should be taught how to clean themselves and how to approach vulnerable family members when they return home. These measures should be taught on media, at the workplace and at school.
3. As advocated earlier, people should be taught and continually reminded about carrying out the responsibility of protecting themselves against Covid-19 by practicing the 3W and 3C as the daily norms. The public should also be educated on the level of risk of getting an infection from activities so as to avoid the activities that are high risk, for example avoiding bars, indoor close contact, meetings and parties, eating in crowded indoor restaurants, etc. Activities outside, with physical distancing, is generally low risk and since we need the sun to produce Vitamin D, exercising outside should be encouraged.
4. That the SOPs need to be well defined, complete and accurate to avoid confusion. For instance, the misunderstanding on the usage of masks during fuelling at petrol stations, and the restriction of travelling together and eating at a table in restaurants, while the group may be from the same household, hence sharing the same living environment and air. Such restrictions may further increase the risk of depression, lethargy, and family discord of being cooped up for too long.
5. That nutritional education on the right food would assist the development of a stronger immune system. Get nutritionists and dieticians on board in the media to tell people what to eat, how to prepare and cook and when to eat is as important as showing people how to exercise in the mornings.
6. The creation of platforms for people with mental health issues to reach out to either at the university, healthcare, organisational or even individual level and if possible make it free so that anyone can get help when needed.
7. That the message of keeping the vulnerable and high risk groups safe should be constantly reaffirmed and resonated to the public via media and to communities. It is important to make sure that people above 70 and anyone who has chronic diseases do not get infected.

Read here (New Straits Times, Nov 14, 2020)