Total Lockdown or Partial Lockdown

(Sekatan Penuh atau Sekatan Separa )

Introduction

In view of an alarming sharp spike in the coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the country, there have been calls by medical professionals for the government to implement a nationwide partial lockdown. A self-quarantine measure imposed in other countries such as China in containing the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak has experienced some degree of success.

Carriers of the virus could be easily isolated and identified, and this helped minimize the disease’s spread. On 16 March 2020, the Malaysian Prime Minister announced a 14-day nationwide Movement Control Order or partial lockdown from March 18 – 31 to try and stop the spread of the COVID-19 in Malaysia.

Pengenalan

Memandangkan peningkatan secara mendadak dalam kes-kes Coronavirus (COVID-19) di Negara ini, terdapat tekanan dan kebimbangan dari pelbagai pihak khususnya badan perubatan sehinggakan pihak Kerajaan melaksanakan Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan di seluruh Negeri. Usaha “Self-Quarantine” yang diambil oleh Negara luar seperti China dalam membendung penularan wabak COVID-19 telah menunjukkan impak positif. Kaedah “Self-Quarantine” membolehkan pengasingan individu yang dijangkiti dan disyaki membawa wabak ini diasingkan dan dikenal pasti, yang mana membantu dalam mengekang penularan wabak ini. Pada 16 Mac 2020, Perdana Menteri Malaysia telah mengumumkan Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan selama 14 hari di seluruh Negara bermula pada 18 hingga 31 Mac 2020 dalam usaha membendung penularan COVID-19 di Malaysia.

QUESTION 1

Should the government impose a total lockdown instead of the Movement Control Order (partial lockdown) to effectively contain the COVID-19 outbreak?

Soalan 1: Adakah kerajaan perlu melaksanakan Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan Sepenuhnya dan bukannya Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan Separa dalam membendung penularan wabak COVID-19 dengan berkesan?