PETALING JAYA: Exhausted frontlliners are thankful for the drop in Covid-19 cases but they are ever vigilant and plead with Malaysians to continue following the standard operating procedures as interstate travel has now resumed.

       A doctor attached to a Covid-19 designated hospital in the Klang Valley said that since the pandemic broke out in March last year, they have always been on their toes.

       She said while they had some time off between the first and second wave, they had never stopped working since the third wave in October last year.

       This year has been almost non-stop work, with a peak in July and August, causing them emotional and mental anguish.

       “It has been really tough and nothing in my medical training prepared me for this. I felt so helpless as I could not do anything for my patients and their families,” she said.

       Over the past weeks, there has been a drop in the number of serious cases and frontliners can now breathe easy

       She hasn’t been back to her hometown in Kedah for almost a year to see her family but is planning to head back next month.

       “For some, they are just burnt out but for many others including me, we have been exhausted for the longest time,” she said.

       She said the vaccination programme has contributed to the drop in severe cases but hoped people would not let their guard down.

       “The virus can still evolve and cause damage. I have seen what Covid-19 can do to people and their families. It is devastating. I hope people care for themselves and those around them,” she said.

       A doctor from Teluk Intan, who declined to be named, shared that nothing much has changed for the hospital as there are still many Covid-19 cases in the community.

       “In the ICU, the situation is fluctuating and we still maintain the few wards we have converted into ICU wards,” he said.

       The doctor added that since restrictions have been lifted, there is no more any demarcation of those coming from red zones.

       As such, the doctor said they do not know the risk status of the people coming into the hospital.

       “What we did in the past was to have an isolation zone for those from the red zones, whether they had flu or a heart ailment. Since there is no longer any demarcation, what we do now is to put patients with respiratory problems such as cough, cold, and those with fever from unknown sources, in the isolation zone.

       “We also strengthened our SOP to ensure the safety of everyone,” he said.

       Since interstate travel is now allowed, the doctor said medical staff are anticipating an increase in the number of patients.

       “If you get Covid-19, we will still continue with the same process where people will be hospitalised, contact tracing will be conducted among others. I don’t think anything will change. I don’t think people will stop coming to the hospital if they have Covid-19,” he said.

       With this, the doctor urged Malaysians to be extra cautious and to continue practising the SOP.

       “As borders reopen, we don’t know where people are coming from. There are also a lot of children who remain unvaccinated. So let’s not let our guard down that can result in children being infected. Those who are vaccinated too can be infected. It does not mean that they are completely immune from the virus,” he said.

       Another doctor, who also declined to be named, said it will take a while before there is a reduction in the number of people in ICU.

       However, the doctor said now that vaccinated Malaysians can travel more freely, it is vital that people continue to adhere strictly to the SOP.