KUALA LUMPUR (April 9): The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) is calling for the Movement Control Order (MCO) to be relaxed and has asked for the government to find a balance between enforcing measures to fight the virus, while also mitigating the economic impact of the pandemic.

While the MCO is targeted at limiting the spread of the virus by significantly reducing the contact between people, the association said there is no doubt such measures will have a severe impact on the economies of nations adopting them.

“The longer they are in force, the worse the socioeconomic damage will be. The authorities will have to find a balance between controlling the spread of the disease and avoiding irreparable economic damage,” it said.

The association also quoted the World Health Organization (WHO) which had previously urged countries to balance the possible benefits and negative consequences of measures to be imposed and deploy strategies to encourage community engagement, gain trust and limit social or economic harm.

WHO had proposed organising work sites to ensure physical distance between persons, such as staggering shifts over time or converting on-site service to home delivery to keep more businesses open.

MMA said the disruption of social activities, gainful employment, job losses and bankruptcies, will have to be tempered with support for small businesses and the people, as no jobs means no income, which would mean many would be hard pressed to survive prolonged MCOs or long-term lockdowns.

“It is likely that a stepwise relaxation of movement control will be the way forward. For instance, businesses may be allowed to operate with strict guidelines on how many people can be on the premises. Public transport may have to operate with limited loads, with frequent disinfection. Solitary public exercise will have to be permitted, to allow for mental and physical health issues. 

“In all cases, strict hand hygiene and physical distancing must be observed, with masks if necessary. Interstate travel may need to be restricted, but will have to be prioritised for economic needs, rather than personal,” the association said.

However, the association said large group congregations will still have to be restricted until the likelihood of community viral spread reduces consistently, which might take upwards of months to years.

While movement control may be relaxed, diagnosis, isolation and treatment of Covid-19 patients cannot be let up and that point of care rapid tests, such as those for dengue and influenza, will need to be evaluated and made available within a few weeks.

“We will need to look into those who have been cured or who have protective antibodies, so that perhaps these convalescent people might get ‘certificates of infection and cure’, and therefore, be allowed to return quickly to society: to work, to pursue business, to study etc. 

“This is being explored in Germany and northern European nations right now,” MMA pointed out.

The association hopes there will not be any sort of monopoly on the manufacture, import, distribution and sale of such tests or economic incentives, as these should benefit the people “equitably and fairly, without losses from leakages and unnecessary bureaucracy.

“The government must exercise financial prudence, power restraint, as well as great transparency, so that the rakyat can have confidence in the government’s management and control of this Covid-19 pandemic.

“In the meantime, there must be careful regular re-evaluation of the scientific advances made globally, so that we can work in tandem with world experts to contain and finally eradicate this pandemic,” MMA said.

Meanwhile, another medical group, the Academy of Medicine Malaysia, had earlier today urged for an extension of the MCO up to and beyond Hari Raya Aidilfitri in May, noting the risks of spreading the virus to the elderly, if people were to return to their hometowns.

However, the group also urged the government to strengthen plans to ease the socio-economic repercussions of the pandemic and called for robust and holistic approaches in addressing the crisis.

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