There’s no doubt that the Covid-19 situation in Malaysia is getting worse by the day and it is absolutely crucial that we work together to flatten the curve once again. Failure to do so can end the country in a very bad place where the rate of transmission cannot be controlled.
In a Facebook post, Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah posted an infograph showing what the Covid-19 situation will look like at the end of October 2020 in three different scenarios.
The rate of transmission is predicted using an R0 (pronounced R-naught) value. Currently, Malaysia’s R0 value is at 1.8, which means that one infected person is able to spread the virus to 1.8 other people.
In the graph that Dr Noor Hisham shared, the light pink section shows that cases can reach over 4,500 cases daily if the R0 value increases to 2.2 while the dark pink section shows that cases can reach about 1,500 cases daily if the R0 value is at 1.5
Similarly, an R0 value of 0.3 in the blue section predicts less than 500 cases daily.
If Malaysians are not serious in curbing the spread of the virus and the R0 reaches a value of 2.2, the total number of cases in the country could reach over 20,000, with thousands of people getting infected daily.
Dr Noor Hisham then calls on all Malaysians to work together to flatten the curve again.
“Where do we want to be, we need to decide either to come together be united and be stronger to fight the common enemy or continue to cry over the spilled milk over and over again when the numbers are increasing,” he said.
“Our frontliners are already on the ground with their sweats and tears.”
Earlier, it was reported that Dr Noor Hisham has to undergo home quarantine after being exposed to a Covid-19 positive individual, namely Dr.Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri. The Religious Affairs Minister tested positive after returning from Sabah for the elections.
Let us not disappoint Dr Noor Hisham or our fellow Malaysians, or waste the efforts of our beloved frontliners. Lives are at stake and it is up to us to stop the spread of Covid-19 in our country once again.
