What Malaysia needs to do during COVID-19 outbreak

In an opinion piece published in MySinChew, Professor Datuk Dr Awang Bulgiba Awang Mahmud list down the things that Malaysia needs to do during the COVID19 outbreak. He said that a clear overall outbreak management strategy needs to answer the following questions:

  1. What stage of the outbreak is Malaysia in now?
  2. How is each stage determined?
  3. What is the capacity of our infrastructure to cope with the current stage?
  4. What are the strategies for each stage of the outbreak?
  5. What is the goal of the strategies at each stage?
  6. What is the trigger for announcing a change of stage?
  7. Does each stage need to have different grades?
  8. How do we decide how long we should continue strategies for each stage?
  9. How do we emphasize individual responsibility for implementing recommended personal-level actions?
  10. How do we empower businesses, schools, and community organizations to implement recommended actions, particularly in ways that protect persons at increased risk of severe illness?
  11. How can we optimize critical infrastructure or services for individuals who are at increased risk of severe illness?
  12. How can we optimize scarce testing and treatment facilities which are scattered across several ministries?
  13. When do we start doing triage for severely ill patients to separate those who can be saved and those who cannot?
  14. How do we minimize disruptions to daily life?

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