Loading...
PRESS STATEMENT
16 June 2021
Reported positive cases of Covid-19 have dropped from 9,020 on 29 May to 4,949 on 14 June. This does seem like a miracle, until you take note of high case positive rates and high fatality rates during the same period.
The data which is available publicly does not support an actual 45% drop in daily Covid-19 cases. The continued high utilization of ICU beds and the proliferation of severe Covid-19 cases suggests that the virus is widespread and we are facing more virulent strains.
On 29 May a total of 126,480 tests were conducted and testing had increased in the 15 days prior by 166%. Daily reported cases had likewise increased 104% during that same period and the case positive rate was near or above 7% during the first week of June. Since 29 May daily cases have dropped 45% and daily testing has also dropped 44%. Case positive rates have been rising for three days and have averaged 6.67% for the last seven days. In some states the positive rate is as high as 13%.
Elementary school math is all that is required to see the inconsistency. If we conducted 100,000 tests yesterday we would likely find over 7,000 cases. If we conducted 150,000 tests, the number of cases could exceed 10,000.
It is possible to manipulate perception of the severity of pandemic through selective presentation of data. It is possible that data can be manipulated to show the virus is spreading fast enough to justify the ongoing granting of emergency powers to the PN government, but not fast enough to highlight the governments manifest incompetence in managing the pandemic.
Are daily cases higher than 10,000? The only way to be certain is to follow scientific methods. If we test more and find more cases, then we can properly isolate, contact trace and support those infected individuals.
If we test more and do not find cases, only then we can have certainty that the spread is declining. Many medical professionals have raised this issue - yet for several weeks the Ministry of Health has either ignored us or given inadequate responses.
If we do not follow science, as appears to be the case with the PN government, then the tremendous sacrifices made by Malaysians during lockdowns will be for naught. The virus will continue to spread, maim and kill. The poorest Malaysians will be asked to continue to shoulder the burden of pandemic lockdown measures while the wealthy get by or even profit during this time. This is manifestly unjust and a direct result of the poor policy-making conducted in the absence of Parliament.
Allowing politics and narrow political interests to dictate strategy is a recipe for failure, more lost lives and destruction of the Malaysian economy.
The strategy has to change. The only way to exit Covid-19 is to rely on sound scientific methods, data sharing, transparency and accountability. We cannot succeed without all of society on board. This is only possible when trust and confidence is restored between the people and the government.
ANWAR IBRAHIM
Loading...
