Flattening the curve a second-time

In an interview with the Star newspaper, Prof Datuk Dr Awang Bulgiba Awang Mahmud pointed out that to flatten the curve it will depend largely on the type and speed of the action taken and whether the infections had spread beyond a confined locality.

Dr Awang Bulgiba urged the government to take proactive steps in preventing another prison outbreak by taking steps such as reducing the prison population, regular screening of prison inmates and staff as well as regularly sanitising prison facilities.

He also expressed concern over the rising cases in Sabah, noting that new infections in the community there showed no signs of slowing down.

Dr Awang also discussed on the Rt estimates presented by the Director-General of Health Malaysia, Dr Noor Hisham. He said that the Rt needed to be refined as the one presented was based on the Rt estimates for the entire country. He said a national Rt is not useful, as the current COVID-19 situation is due to localised spread.

Dr Awang pointed out that Rt depends on the susceptibility of the population, exposure of the population and infectiousness of the virus.

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