The prime minister recently announced that, from 10 August 2021, some flexibility would be allowed for all the doubly vaccinated, eg dining out, interstate travel and exercising outdoors.
This would have been good news – except that the Delta virus is still out there and who knows what other variants are lurking.
Putrajaya has also said that those fully vaccinated and travelling back to Malaysia will only need to quarantine at home on their return.
Is this a wise move? Who is going to ‘willingly’ isolate themselves after coming back from a holiday? Get real, prime minister!
So there will be millions of fully vaccinated people being able to move about despite the Delta variant rampaging throughout the country. Yes, it has been reported that if a fully vaccinated person is infected, chances are he or she would be less likely to get full-blown Covid but a milder version of it.
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But why would anyone want to get infected at all? Surely many people are aware of long Covid victims who are still struggling. So why is the government doing this?
So far, 29% of the population have been fully vaccinated. Clearly millions more have not yet been vaccinated, and that should be the priority to reach herd immunity.
Despite some increase, the overall vaccination process is still slow and this has been the case since the beginning. Vaccination centres are being opened all over the country, but they are still not enough.
The United Sikhs Malaysia, an NGO, is reportedly helping those isolating at home who are in need of oxygen concentrators, as hospitals are overwhelmed with Covid patients.
We are not out of the woods; yet we have a government that is easing movements for the fully vaccinated. Why?
Are the prime minister, the deputy prime minister and the minister in charge of the vaccination rollout completely unaware of what is happening on the ground? Are the prime minister and his minions more concerned with the numbers that will allow them to stay in power or the lives of all Malaysians?
Countries in the northern hemisphere are already looking into the third booster shots with winter approaching. When will the booster shots be given in Malaysia? Newer and deadlier variants may be appearing.
People are getting more frustrated and angrier with each passing day; many are out of work with no end in sight to the pandemic. Unfortunately, we have people in government who are so out of touch with the reality of what the people are going through.
Hopefully, all those double-vaccinated people will continue to stay at home, continue to wear masks and only go out when absolutely necessary while following physical distancing rules. Even though they are fully vaccinated, the Delta variant is deadlier.
The lives of everyone should continue to take priority instead of following the dumb decisions of a prime minister who is so out of touch with the daily sufferings of the people.
Jem, an Aliran reader, still cares deeply about Sabah, despite having lived in the peninsula for some time
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
