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Threat Of Covid-19 Resurgence Looms As Industries Open Up, Says Former Deputy Health Minister

Threat Of Covid-19 Resurgence Looms As Industries Open Up, Says Former Deputy Health Minister

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There could be a risk of a Covid-19 resurgence in the country when industries resume operations, warned former Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye.

He said the threat is real when the economy is trying to restart again as the hope of the virus dying down like what happened to Sars in 2003 now seems more unlikely.

To date, he added, there are no documented effective treatments for Covid-19 with the development of a vaccine would take as long as 2 years so we have to practice social distancing even when the Movement Control Order (MCO) has ended.

Talking about the new normal post-MCO, he said the government must allocate more on public healthcare, especially on combating Covid-19 as increasing the capabilities to mitigate the coronavirus is key in restarting the economy.

He said that considering the MCO has cost around RM2.4 billion daily, the government should invest at least RM4.8 billion on equipment and manpower.

RM2.4 billion should be spent on test kits, tracking technology, quarantine facilities and logistics while the other half on 50,000 specialised healthcare workers or a “Covid-19 team” at the cost of RM48,000 per person, per year.


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