COVID19 Situation in Malaysia Updates Since the Pandemic Begins
Nik Mohd Faiz Bin Nik Mohd Azmi, DVM, PhD
Senior Lecturer, Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies,
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
Today, 5th September 2021, Malaysia’s daily number of newly-confirmed Covid-19 is 20,396. This number has be around for few weeks now with daily cases around 20k a day with cumulative cases of around 1.85 million cases since the pandemic started (Figure 1). Total death is around 18,500. Malaysia is divided into 14 states and the highest number of cases occur in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia where I live. Daily cases in this state alone is around six to seven thousand cases.
Lockdowns
Since the movement control order (MCO) implemented in March 2020, Malaysians have undergone different phases of lockdown as the government struggled with the spread of COVID-19. Here are some recap on the various phases of lockdowns or in Malaysia as we call it “Movement Control Order (MCO)”. When the pandemic first wave began in the first quarter of 2020, the government implemented the Movement Control Order where everyone must stay at home and only one household member can leave the house to buy the essential goods. In Mid-2020, total number of cases reduced to a single digit and the government had ease the MCO, meaning that Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) had begun.
However, that did not last long. In January 2021, there are spike in cases being reported and with the hospitals are at the breaking point, second MCO was implemented nationwide, MCO 2.0. In some location, Enhanced MCO (EMCO) was imposed where the number of cases are too high in any specific location. For EMCO location, the area will be closed with barbed wire and military/police will guard the area to prevent the movement of people. Foods will be provided in that area during EMCO enforcement. Now, MCO are implemented on the state situation basis where states with low number of cases, RMCO was implemented and those state with high number of cases, MCO are implemented.
Economic Impact, Government Role and Aid
The pandemic has severely affected the economy of Malaysia in general, and to companies and individually. Many companies has declared bankruptcy and this can be seen through news and social media. Many hotels has announced that they will be closed down permanently. As for the citizens, many have suffered from pay cut and loss of job and income.
The Government of Malaysia, along with various non-governmental organizations (NGOs), companies, and foreign governments introduced various financial aid and relief programs in response to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia. The government has issued several financial aids to families affected, allowing moratorium of all loans and in addition, citizens are allowed to withdraw from their own Employee Provident Fund (EPF).
Many NGOs has also helped to ease the suffering of those affected by the pandemic via raising funds and donations of essential goods. Malaysian are trying to help each other by asking around if any of their neighbors need any help. Several phone applications has been developed by the citizens to help in the process. One of the smartphone applications is meant to show houses that can offer help and houses that need help with essential goods (Figure 2). Early 2021 when the second MCO started, there is also a movement called “Bendera Putih” which means “White Flag”. If any family need food and essential to live, they can put up a white flag outside their house to inform neighbors that they need help. This movement was supported by Malaysians to help each other.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Since the pandemic started, the main way of diagnosis is via PCR and use of Rapid Test Kit (RTK). This can be done at government hospital and private hospital. Those who believe that they have been exposed to the virus can go to government clinic for free test or private clinic with faster result but they have to pay themselves. If they are tested positive, they have to report to the government and wait whether they are allowed to quarantine at home or has to be brought to the quarantine center. The decision is based on if they are high risk individuals, live with other high risk person, or in an area where self-quarantine is impossible such as apartments. At the moment, stage 4 and 5 individuals will live in the ICU and others will be in quarantine center.
As for the treatment, standard treatment were used in hospital where patient were given symptomatic and supportive treatment. In social media, many are sharing different methods to control the symptoms using traditional approach. One of the approach is to boil cloves and inhale the vapor. Malaysia is also affected by the global trend of pushing the use of ivermectin in covid patient. The government informed that they will now allow the use of ivermectin until enough scientific data has been gathered to support it. However, many tried to find their own way to get Ivermectin via black market. Veterinarians all over Malaysia was also pressured by some to sell the drugs.
Vaccination in the country is going well. To date, about 48% of Malaysia population has received double dose of Covid19 vaccination and 62.5% has received at least one dose of the vaccine (Figure 1). Malaysia imported three sources of vaccines, Prizer, Sinovac and AstraZeneca. At first, many were hesitant to take the vaccine. However, after a rigorous campaign and not much bad side effect were reported by those taking it, many registered to take the vaccine. Similar with any other countries, we are also facing anti-vaccination movement by some groups. The government impose another rule to counter the movement by allowing only those vaccinated to enter public places and to attend the work physically. We hope to vaccinate all adults by the end of October.
Personal experience
For me, as a lecturer and researcher at a university, the pandemic really affect my work and performance. My experiment were affected because I am unable to keep live animals for research and maintaining cell culture. With everyone working from home, it is very difficult to get things done.
Teaching is a big challenge. I have to teach a total of 500 veterinary students at my university. Some of the students are facing difficulties such as internet connections and online learning equipment. Some students cannot attend online examination due to internet connection issue and it requires me repeat the exam multiple times to different students based on their availability. I have also lend my old phone and laptop to some student that cannot afford it to allow them to attend my lecture. In addition, we lecturer of the faculty collected donations to help students that were stranded in their residential college (Figure 3).
Some students even postpone their semester because they believe they are not learning much from online education. We respect their decision and it might be the best option for them.
Summary
In conclusion, the pandemic affect all of us from all angle, economically, mentally and physically. It test us to be stronger, it test our ego and humanity. The pandemic can be the moment the world pushes back against fear and isolationism, and turns instead towards hope, solidarity and a shared sense of global community.
The statistic of Malaysia COVID19 cases and vaccination program. Obtained from Minister of Health, Malaysia (“Juta” mean million)
This is a screenshot of an application to help each other during the pandemic. The red circle means those that need helps with daily essential and blue circles means they have extra to give.
Alumni and staff of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, UPM Malaysia collected donations to provide food bank and food supplies to all veterinary students stranded at the residential campus.
