KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 9): The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has urged the government to delay the relaxing of restrictions for fully-vaccinated people until cases are “significantly reduced”.

Any such decision must be supported with sufficient scientific evidence, said the country’s largest association representing doctors.

“If it is indeed a decision based on science, why then is travel allowed for those wishing to see their spouse or their young children?

“Either it’s sufficiently safe for the fully vaccinated to travel, in which case all vaccinated individuals should be allowed to do so, or it is not, in which case nobody should travel,” MMA president Datuk Dr Subramaniam Muniandy said in a statement.

He also warned that Phase 2 states risk going back to Phase 1 as early as next week, based on the rising infection rates.

“The states where the fully vaccinated are allowed these freedoms should be based on science. Some of those states in Phase 2 are showing an increasing trend in cases of Covid-19. By next week, they may be in Phase 1,” he said. 

Urging the government to focus on hospital bed and ICU utilisation instead of the total number of cases, Dr Subramaniam said: “We will not get to zero on Covid-19 cases any time soon. However, with the increasing rate of vaccinations, serious cases may soon be trending down by month end.”

MMA said going forward, it hopes that the government will provide an update on the positivity rate, as well as the status of bed utilitisation and ICU cases in all states.

These will be “more meaningful indicators” apart from daily cases, it said.

 “We also hope there will be an update on the vaccination status of all those in the high risk category under Phase 2 of the National Immunisation Programme.

“Any lifting of restrictions must also take into account high risk groups such as nursing homes, factory and construction workers, security guards, cleaners, medical students and undocumented migrant workers that have not been vaccinated,” said Dr Subramaniam.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced several easing of restrictions from Aug 10 for those who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

This includes interstate travels for long-distance couples and parents meeting their underaged children, permission to perform prayers at houses of worship, as well as more recreational activities in Phase 2 and 3 states.