Malaysia has been dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic for over a year and it is hitting critical highs at this point of time. Frontliners are exhausted and are doing the best they can to tend to Covid-19 victims. However, some people are still not taking the virus seriously, which may be related to the surge in recent cases.
A Malaysian doctor took to Facebook to share the encounters of a fellow doctor at a Covid-19 centre where several individuals made her feel angry and helpless.
“These are just a few cases in one centre in two weeks; and if you were to take this and multiply it by the number of clinics or hospitals by months, can you imagine how many potential transmissions there could be?”
“These are just a few examples that I can share, and there are many more similar stories.”
Story 1
A patient was called and was informed that he had tested positive for Covid-19 after coming into close contact with a positive patient.
The patient responded saying,
“Haaaah??? There’s no way I am positive, the doctor must be wrong!!”
“Where are you?” the frontliner asked, as the background was too noisy for someone who was supposed to be quarantined.
The patient replied, “I have a big Iftar at my house. Mom and Dad came to visit.”
Story 2
Another patient was called and informed that she tested positive for Covid-19.
The patient replied, “Oh no doctor, I already went back to work after the swab. And then I went for lunch. Also, I visited my in-laws after that.”
The frontliner questioned why she went ‘gallivanting’ after the swab test, to which the patient replied,
“If I am positive, then I need to be quarantined. Before the results, we don’t know yet so better go out first. Can I come to repeat the swab test? Just to confirm.”
Story 3
A family of five came to be tested after their father tested positive for Covid-19, and were placed in cabins outside the emergency department. Nearing buka puasa time, a medical staff went over to bring food for the family, but the cabin was empty.
“We had to go on a full force search to call and locate the family, and in the end found them having dinner at one of the cafes,” the frontliner said.
In the end, three of them tested positive for Covid-19.
The doctor then shared some examples of what NOT to do during this crucial time:
- Isolate yourself if you’re sick.
- If symptoms persist, please consider getting a Covid test. You can get tested for free at government centres or you can pay RM60 for an RTK in some private clinics.
- If you’ve had contact with a Covid positive patient (which makes you a Person Under Investigation),
you have to be quarantined for ten days from exposure, even if your swab is negative. Please
isolate yourself until you get called. - Please observe the SOPs. Right now, we all have an individual responsibility to keep our distance, mask properly and wash our hands.
- Get vaccinated or sign up for your vaccination if you haven’t and encourage all your friends and family to do so.
Covid-19 is not a joke and it’s absolutely crucial that those who are infected or have had close contact with an infected person quarantine themselves immediately, and even more so with the new strains. If you have any concerns, please see a doctor immediately.
Also read: “It’s gonna get worse” M’sian Frontliner Shares A Glimpse Of What Goes On At Hospitals Every Day
