KUALA LUMPUR: Couples planning to get married in areas placed under the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) have been advised to postpone their functions to minimise the risk of Covid-19 transmission in the community.
Medical experts said this in view of Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob's announcement yesterday that weddings, even with a guest list of over 500 people, could proceed as planned in CMCO areas.
Malaysian Public Health Physicians' Association president Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar said allowing big events like wedding functions and dinners to be held during this critical time defeats the purpose of a CMCO, which is to minimise and control the risk of transmission.
"If this is the case, there is no need for a CMCO in the first place. The decision (to allow big weddings) is not appropriate for CMCO.
"CMCO is supposed to limit or bar movements in and out of red zones to curb the spread outside these zones," he told the New Straits Times.
Ismail Sabri had on Oct 9 said guests coming from outside CMCO areas need only show their wedding invitations to policemen in order to go through the roadblocks.
He had also said apart from the existing conditions such as providing guest entry logs and related equipment at their wedding events, hosts would have to engage the People's Volunteer Corps (Rela) for crowd control purposes.
Dr Zainal, who is also a public health medicine and non-communicable disease epidemiology consultant, said it would be "very difficult" for hosts to ensure their guests adhere to the standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Therefore, he advised, hosts to either postpone their functions or have it at a small scale, among close family members.
Infectious disease consultant Datuk Dr Christopher Lee, on Twitter, wrote: "(It) will be iffy especially if it (the function) is held indoors.
"In a celebratory atmosphere with food and drinks, (physical) distancing and consistent masking would be difficult (to observe).
"Postponing a reception is hard but couples should consider that," he wrote.
He further said the trajectory of current outbreak in Malaysia was at worrying levels, involving greater community transmission from casual contact, not just immediate family and workmates.
"We need to minimise our own risk by limiting our Covid-19 footprint and planning our daily activities focusing on safety."
Sandakan, Papar and Tuaran in Sabah, and Klang in Selangor were placed under the CMCO since Oct 9 after these areas recorded more than 40 positive cases recently.
Senior consultant paediatrician Datuk Dr Amar-Singh H.S.S. questioned the practicality of adhering to the SOPs, which include the need to observe physical distancing.
"Weddings of 500++ guests allowed. Defeats the purpose of a CMCO. How to maintain SOP at such a large wedding gathering with food served?" he tweeted.
A physician based in Sabah, meanwhile, tweeted: "Having that many guests for a wedding in the CMCO areas based on the current situation in the state is certainly not a good idea."