The implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) in Kuala Lumpur and several districts in Selangor and other parts of the country has elicited mixed reactions from health experts on the effectiveness of this new round of Covid-19 mitigation measures.
Some believed that the latest lockdown, dubbed MCO 3.0, could slow down the infection rate provided all quarters comply with the standard operating procedures (SOP).
Others, however, doubted the ongoing measures could break the chain of transmission as many economic sectors are still allowed to operate.
Malaysian Public Health Physicians Association president Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar said MCO 3.0 might not break the Covid-19 transmission chain, but it could slow down the spread significantly and prevent the emergence of new clusters.
Dr Zainal said it was crucial that the authorities produce a more detailed SOP as MCO 3.0 provided greater flexibility, especially among economic sectors.
"The authorities need to put in place strict monitoring and enforcement to ensure MCO 3.0 achieves its target."
The government, he said, must boost community engagement and empowerment to reduce the number of Covid-19 cases.
"The government should promote concepts, such as self-restraint and self-proclaim, where apart from refraining from possibly risky activities, people should also volunteer for testing if they have (Covid-19) symptoms or know that they've been exposed to infected people," he said.
Former Malaysian Medical Association president Professor Datuk Dr N.K.S. Tharmaseelan slammed MCO 3.0, calling it a half-hearted measure.
MCO 3.0, he said, was not as strict as previous lockdowns.
"These half-hearted measures are not going to work. For the spread of Covid-19 to continue unabated, human movement is responsible.
"There will be a spike in the number of cases every time we lift the MCO and ease restrictions," he said.
The government, said Dr Tharmaseelan, must thoroughly weigh the pros and cons and that "making a show" won't work.
"We need to take the bull by the horns.
"Regulations and strict enforcement of the SOP are vital. Penalties are not going to work either.
"The 'carrots' are not out, but the 'stick' is being used randomly with no effect."
Dr Tharmaseelan believed that too many authorities were involved in the enforcement measures.
"We have Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Science, Technology and Innovations Minister Khairy Jamaluddin and Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba making contradictory statements on the pandemic and the management protocols," he said, adding that he urged the government to streamline its decisions and course of action.
In contrast, Associate Professor Dr Malina Osman believed that MCO 3.0 could achieve its target if all parties comply with the SOP.
"However, more time is needed for cases to decline," said Dr Malina, an epidemiology and biostatistics expert from Universiti Putra Malaysia.
This time around, she said, the government had identified high-risk activities which had resulted in the spread of the virus.
These include social activities that require participants to take off masks during eating, drinking, talking together and taking photos.
"If we can continue to comply with the SOP, we can protect ourselves from the infection.
"And there is no need for a blanket ruling to restrict all activities.
"This would allow economic activities to continue.
"Unlike the first MCO (that came into force on March 18 last year), this time we have vaccines being administered," said Dr Malina.
With the increasing number of people getting vaccinated, she hoped that transmissions would decline over time.
On a related matter, Dr Zainal believed it would take more than two weeks for the country to see a reduction in Covid-19 cases.
"Two weeks (of the MCO) is not enough. We need at least four weeks," he said.
Dr Tharmaseelan said a two-week MCO would at least contain or reduce the spread.
"We seem to be more concerned about the economy than human lives.
"Money and the economy will bounce back as the fundamentals of Malaysian economics have always been strong.
"Even with these options, it seems to be a difficult one for the government.
"Now is not the time to play to the gallery," he said.