Focus on SOP instead of travel ban

By Dawn Chan - April 21, 2021 @ 9:00am

KUALA LUMPUR: While stricter interstate travel conditions could possibly curb the Covid-19 infection chain,  experts opined that a more effective way to achieve this is to put greater emphasis on standard operating procedure (SOP).

Malaysian Public Health Physicians Association president Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar said interstate travel restricted to emergency cases only, as well as work purposes on certain days of the week, was out of date.

The government, he added, should explore new ways to lower the risk of transmission as the current restrictions, such as the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) in several states, had not produced the desired results.

"The government should think of new approaches to tackle the rise of new infections as the situation seems a little lax.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

• No interstate travel, MICE and social events during CMCO this time [NSTTV]

• Clowns remind public to follow SOP at Ramadan bazaar

• 3 women fined RM5,000 each for interstate travel in Kelantan

• IGP: Not fair to accuse police of being cruel

"The problem is not in travelling. More focus should be put on ensuring that people adhere to the SOP. In the case of social events and crowded places, there should be a limit when it comes to holding them and the number of people allowed to attend.

"There should also be a new set of rules for Ramadan bazaars. They should be small and scattered, not where the stalls are concentrated and cramped at a certain place," he told the New Straits Times yesterday.

Dr Zainal Ariffin felt that interstate travel should be allowed as the ban was just a waste of resources and had inconvenienced the people.

He said even with a ban enforced in several states under CMCO, the nation continued to record Covid-19 cases in the thousands daily.

"This renders the restriction ineffective," he said.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani had yesterday said interstate travel would be permitted from Mondays to Thursdays for essential work trips and emergency situations.

From Friday to Sunday, interstate travel would be allowed only for family emergencies, death among immediate family members and long-distance spouses.

He said the ruling would apply during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri season and interstate travel for social events, weddings and family gatherings would not be approved. 

Universiti Malaya Department of Social and Preventive Medicine Professor Dr Victor Hoe said he, too, did not subscribe to any restrictions on interstate travel as the idea of stopping movement was very abstract.

While he felt that putting stringent conditions for interstate travel was something police could do to stop the virus transmission, the priority should be on monitoring the public and ensuring that people follow the SOP.

"The problem is not about restricting travel. Restricting interstate travel will not curb the virus transmission. It is the people who need to follow basic SOP, including avoiding crowded places, and close conversation and contact.

"That is more effective. The police should communicate with the people and advise them on the importance of following the SOP to help reduce cases. If the people do not toe the line, transmission occurs.

"I hope people will understand that the onus is not just on the government, police or enforcement bodies. Everybody needs to adhere to the SOP. By doing so, everyone gets to go back to work, make money and ensure society continues to function," he said. 

Hoe questioned the police's theory of restricting interstate travel on certain days, which he described as confusing.

He said it would not make a difference as people who were insistent on travelling would find ways to do so.

On the other hand, Alliance for Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye welcomed the move by the police.

"As long as it is strictly and stringently adhered to, we should give this approach a try.

"We must also ensure that there is no abuse in the system, where certain people who have 'connections' with enforcement authorities get their approval to travel.

"The police must thoroughly screen applications and decide if there is truly a need to cross borders."

Lee said it was important that all was done to reduce cases as the figures had been hovering above 2,000 in the past few days.

"If this is not checked and put under control, there may be a possibility of a fourth wave," he said.