Fight Against Covid 19 Will Be Tougher With Restrictions Relaxed

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From Dr Vinogiri KS
Covid-19 is far from over. New daily infections are still high and we are reporting a high number of deaths. Brought-in-dead (BID) cases have also been showing a worrisome trend (Figure 1).
Figure 1: Percentage of BID cases from  Aug 6-Sept 7, 2021 (Source: https://kpkesihatan.com/)Figure 2 shows BID cases that are more than 20% of total deaths. From Aug 6 to Sept 7, such cases were more than 20% for 18 days, with the highest at 36%.
The high number of BID cases is devastating and concerning. We do not have important information on those who tragically die in their homes or in the community and sometimes only to be found a few days after dying.
More importantly, we do not know their ages, vaccination status, history of infection, if they had symptoms or no symptoms and cause of sudden health deterioration.
Figure 2: BID cases are more than 20% of total Covid-19 deaths from Aug 6-Sept 7, 2021 (Source: https://kpkesihatan.com/)Figure 3 shows the data of Covid-19 patients in Category 1 and 2 who are fully vaccinated from Sept 1 to 7. Even though we are reporting more than 15,000 new cases daily, we can see that more than 5,000 of these daily cases are those who have completed their vaccination.
Figure 4 shows the data of Covid-19 patients in Category 4 and 5 who are fully vaccinated as well. Even though these numbers might seem small, they still comprise a number of individuals who are battling for their lives despite being completely vaccinated.
Figure 3: Number of fully vaccinated Covid-19 patients in Category 1 and 2 from Sept 1-Sept 7. (Source: https://kpkesihatan.com/)Figure 4: Number of fully vaccinated Covid-19 patients in Category 4 and 5 from Sept 1-Sept 7. (Source: https://kpkesihatan.com/)These data shows the need for each and everyone of us to be more vigilant and cautious than ever.
The battle is tougher now, with the easing of restrictions for vaccinated individuals. It started with dining-in, then cinemas being allowed to reopen and no more roadblocks in the Klang Valley as Selangor joins Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya in Phase 2.
We could not do all these when we reported merely about 700 cases before the very first lockdown in March 2020 but now, what irony. Most restaurants and cinemas have limited ventilation and this can be a trigger for the spread of the virus. When we are dining in, we will remove our masks and the chit-chatting or catching up will take a longer time with higher exposure. The same, too, when we go to the cinemas.
A recent report by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that the rates of Covid-19 associated hospitalisation among children and adolescents increased rapidly from late June to mid-August, coinciding with predominance of the Delta variant. Schools will not be a safe place yet, with only teachers being vaccinated.
Hence, be vigilant always regardless of the easing of restrictions. Think of everyone you care and love. Anything can happen in just a second. Take care and stay safe. - FMT
Dr Vinogiri KS is an FMT reader.
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.

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