GEORGE TOWN – State Youth and Sports Committee chairman Soon Lip Chee wants Penangites to prepare themselves to live with Covid-19 virus in their midst instead of just hoping for life to return to pre-pandemic days.
Soon said the people can only overcome the pandemic by achieving herd immunity once knowledge and awareness about the importance of vaccination are fully understood by the people.
Referring to certain groups that are against vaccination, Soon said public talks and events by health experts, especially from the Health Ministry, will ensure the public will realise that vaccination helps reduce the severity of Covid-19 infections.
Soon also said this will help reduce the number of Covid-19 cases in Categories 4 and 5, hospital and intensive care unit admissions, oxygen tank requirements, and the number of deaths.
“The people should also get an insight into proper practices to lower the risk of infection during home quarantine as well emotional management during and after the pandemic,” he said.
Soon said this during the “Living With Covid-19” virtual programme today.
Other speakers during the event include family physician and senior lecturer of RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus Dr Tan Kean Chye, surgical officer Dr Suaran Singh and RCSI & UCD counsellor Lim Dao Yong.
The program was organised in collaboration with the Penang Youth Development Council and state disaster squad of St John Ambulance Malaysia (Penang branch).
“As we all noticed, (many) things have changed in the almost two years since the pandemic outbreak in March 2020 in Malaysia. The Covid-19 pandemic has caused major effects on our lives from different perspectives.
“Loops of MCOs (movement control orders) and lockdowns at home have brought us negative emotions, boredom, and even fatigue, affecting our mental health. The virus is already living with us and there is no way we can hide from it, but (we can) avoid it and adapt to the changes it has caused to our daily lives,” he said.
Soon said the speakers also touched on the topics of vaccination, home quarantine, and post-pandemic trauma during the one-hour online session.
“I hope we will continue to build upon the opportunities that we have initiated, partnerships we have cemented and networks we have established over this event.
“I have no doubt that the knowledge gained by the people who listened to the talk will be beneficial in dealing with Covid-19 in our daily lives, and do spread the awareness to others,” he added. – The Vibes, August 28, 2021
