M’sian Doctors Call On Government To Impose Nationwide Lockdown Before It’s Too Late

Malaysia’s medical specialists are strongly urging the government to consider the implementation of a nationwide lockdown after the country saw a sudden spike of 190 Co-vid19 cases yesterday (15th February), bringing the tally to a worrying 428.

This rapid rise that is said to be linked to a mass religious gathering of over 14,500 at Masjid Jamek Sri Petaling has made Malaysia the worst-hit Southeast Asian country to date and six of our local medical specialists are calling on the government with urgency to put the entire nation under a lockdown now before things start spiraling out of control.

“My medical colleagues and I have been engrossed with the development of the Covid-19 pandemic… I am sure you are assisted by eminent members of the medical fraternity, including ID (infectious disease) physicians, intensivists, virologists and epidemiologists. But, I wonder if the authorities have considered a lockdown?,” said one of the experienced doctors in the joint statement.

According to the advice of the medical practitioners, not only would a lockdown allow carriers of the deadly virus to be easily isolated and identified, it would also minimise the disease’s rapid spreading.

This could be the only way since it seems as though citizens are still taking the virus too lightly: “the advice for social distancing has obviously fallen on deaf ears, as I see people going about their daily lives as if there is no threat at all.”

“I do consider the implication of such measures, but we do not want to be too late, like other countries, which are fighting a losing battle now. Every day matters,” said the statement, addressed to current Health director-general, Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

“If a lockdown is imposed, the many carriers in the community now will surface when they develop symptoms, while at the same time, they do not infect others. I understand the impact on social order and the economy (this would entail) but if it blows out, we will be dealing with a worse outcome”.

We cannot wait any longer before things get worse than they already are. The government needs to take action now before our entire nation suffers.