PUTRAJAYA: The soon-to-be introduced heightened alert system will serve as a warning mechanism for the Health Ministry to implement intervention measures to prevent a surge in new Covid-19 infections and avoid any new wave of infections.
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the system comprised threshold indicators, which will be announced by the ministry, to avoid another lockdown in the event the Covid-19 situation deteriorated.
The ministry, he said, had tabled the proposed threshold indicators to the Covid-19 Ministerial Quartet Committee, which will then present the matter to the National Security Council.
Khairy said the alert system was not meant to carry out projection of cases, but was instead a threshold value indicator system.
"For example, if the country exceeds a certain threshold value, such as the number of new cases or fatalities or hospital admissions, we have to carry out restrictions on activities, especially those related to social activities."
All states and federal territories, with the exception of Kelantan and Sarawak, have transitioned to Phase Four of the National Recovery Plan.
"What if the threshold value suddenly records an increase to a point that it is uncomfortable for the public health system (to cope with)? We cannot just sit still.
"To avoid (a nationwide) lockdown, we will adopt a targeted approach in implementing restrictions on several sectors.
"I will announce the type of the restrictions that will be introduced."
He said moving forward, the ministry would continue enforcing the Enhanced Movement Control Order on targeted localities, such as villages and residential areas.
"The ministry will also implement the heightened alert system if a state or district recorded an increase in the threshold value.
"But it is definitely not a lockdown. I don't think we can afford another lockdown. It's the last option."
He said given that self-regulation was the key to preventing infection, the ministry would also propose and discuss in the cabinet about bringing back community empowerment.
"This is a friendlier approach. We could appoint community empowerment leaders to remind the people to comply with the standard operating procedures (SOP).
"This will create a balance since we have a friendly approach as well as stricter measures in the form of enforcement, such as issuing compounds against those who breach the SOP."
He said the authorities faced a manpower shortage to ensure SOP compliance.
"Just imagine, at every moment, there is at least one person flouting the SOP.
"We don't have enough manpower to ensure that everyone complies with the SOP everywhere.
"People should have the awareness to comply with the SOP or advise others nicely if they see SOP breaches."