SEREMBAN – It has been a year since COVID-19 affected countries all over the world and there is still no end in sight. In Malaysia, there is no sign of decline in the number of positive cases and as the pandemic wears on, some are getting tired of the new norm.
Is it that they assume they are immune to Covid-19, or has crisis fatigue set in?
Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) Specialist Clinic medical director Assoc Prof Dr Mohd Radzniwan A. Rashid said ‘pandemic fatigue’ could be among factors causing some individuals to let down their guard in curbing Covid-19 transmission.
“The fatigue is driven by the various phases of the movement control order (MCO) implemented by the government since March last year. When it was first enforced people were generally enthusiastic to work together to flatten the Covid-19 curve.
“However, since September last year with inter-state travel more relaxed, coupled with the Sabah state election, there was a spike in positive cases. People grew tired as there seems to be no end to the pandemic,” he told Bernama here, recently.
On Jan 16, Malaysia’s daily cases topped 4,000 for the first time at 4,029 since the pandemic hit the country. As of Thursday, there are 42,814 active cases with the death toll now at 660.
At one time, it seemed as if the country had managed to flatten the curve of infection, reducing transmission of the virus in the community. So what went wrong with our strategy?
According to the USIM Medicine and Health Sciences Faculty lecturer, lack of self-control is the main factor leading to the increase in local infections.
“Currently, some abide by the standard operating procedures (SOP) but some do not. Why? This is because some are feeling overwhelmed with still having to maintain a state of constant vigilance and to be reminded to observe physical distancing, wear a mask and so forth, is wearisome.
“Perhaps some are getting bored of staying home for so long. Although certain rules have been relaxed, as they are now allowed to carry on with their leisure activities, business and others, these privileges are being abused,” he said.
During the first MCO, videos circulated on social media showing the condition of Covid-19 cases and frontliners battling the disease had helped raised public awareness, but these are no longer effective.
Have we forgotten the fact that these human beings are suffering? Have we forgotten the hard work and sacrifice of health workers fighting Covid-19?
Dr Radzniwan said the recent surge in positive cases was also due to community’s complacency in continuing to comply with the restrictions.
He said in the early stages of the MCO implementation, the people were concerned and followed closely the development of the Covid-19 situation, including sharing information and videos on social media that they were afraid to leave their homes.
"But nowadays they are lackasidal, the consequences of getting Covid-19 and the risks do not seem real to them. Our concern is the asymptomatic cases who go undetected and we cannot tell who these silent spreaders are,” he said.
University of Malaya (UM) senior consultant psychiatrist, Assoc Prof Dr Amer Siddiq Amer Nordin who shares Dr Radzniwan views that the pandemic fatigue had led to increased non-compliance with SOPs, added that the indifferent attitudes of certain parties had also caused anger and frustration among the community.
When asked if there is a different set of laws for leaders and the man on the street, Malaysian Academic Association Congress (MAAC) vice-president Prof Ridhuan Tee Abdullah said the people should be smart not to follow the footsteps of leaders who do not show good examples.
“Why must they follow them? The people need to understand the tagline #kitajagakita, so take care of each other. Politicians cannot be emulated as long as they have no integrity,” he said while agreeing that the biased action taken by the authorities had also contributed to the sudden increase in cases.
“There should be no discrimination… action must be taken if one has committed an offence regardless if the person is a minister.
“If only the people are being punished, eventually they will have no respect for the law and the situation will worsen,” he said adding that to control the virus, the leaders and the people must be together in adhering to the SOPs.
“The problem is there is too much politicking. The virus may hit anyone regardless who you are and several leaders and ministers have tested positive with Covid-19.” he added. – Bernama, January 23, 2021
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