WE are into the 10th month of the Covid-19 pandemic that appears to show no signs of abating.
The number of cases worldwide is worrying at more than 40 million and more than one million deaths.
"Our current best estimates tell us that about 10 per cent of the global population may have been infected by this virus. It varies depending on the country, it varies from urban to rural, it varies between different groups.
But what it does mean is that the vast majority of the world remains at risk," says World Health Organisation (WHO) expert Mike Ryan.
A sobering reminder that the fight against this deadly coronavirus is far from over. Despite the WHO's praise that Malaysia is handling the pandemic well, the spike in the number of cases in recent days seems to say otherwise.
Are we doing enough? Just last month, the number of cases was in two and single digits. Two days ago, we saw the highest ever daily increase in Covid-19 cases at 869.
Yesterday, it was 871 cases. We now have more than 6,000 active cases. The death toll is at 187. We appear to be inching towards the 200th mark for total deaths. Are we soon to see the number of new cases balloon to more than 1,000 a day?
That is what some medical experts believe—numbers may keep on rising until we see a peak of 1,000 new cases a day. A scary thought.
In April, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah had warned that it could go as high as that. And that was when the daily increases had not reached today's high.
What is even more worrying is that Dr Noor Hisham fears the D416G strain of the virus — that mutated super spreader detected in the Benteng LD cluster in Lahad Datu and Tawau—may have been "exported" to Peninsular Malaysia, considering the number of new clusters popping up in the peninsula.
If things continue to slide, the current two-week Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) may need to be extended.
Some experts even called for it. And perhaps, more restrictions? We were doing so well, we thought the worst was over, but it is not. We should shoulder on. Play our part by following the Health Ministry's recommendations.
Wear a face mask, maintain physical distancing, avoid crowded places, sanitise, sanitise, sanitise. Politicians and the public may also want to consider putting a halt on politics and focus on this life-threatening problem.
Shift our energy on the battle against this "modern-day black plague". Politicking while the pandemic is raging is not good for the country.
We must be united in our fight against Covid-19. The welfare and health of the people must take precedence.
Let's not forget that this is a pandemic of global proportions. If we forget the lessons of Sabah, we are doomed to repeat it — another MCO will see our economy suffer. And this, we do not want.