May 18-31
1) Since my last post, the COVID-19 situation in Malaysia has reached a critical state - the usage of ICU beds nationwide is now at 104% (that's not a typo) capacity, while COVID-19 hospital beds are at 85%. This means that soon enough, Malaysian doctors will be forced to make the tough call over which patient should be prioritised for an ICU bed. Penang General Hospital is overwhelmed - many wards have been converted to COVID wards and the hospital is now running 4 ICUs to cope with the patients who require more intensive care/ ventilation. In line with this, the Ministry of Health has made the very wise (if long-overdue) decision to impose a full nationwide lockdown (similar to the first lockdown we had when COVID-19 first hit our shores), for the next two weeks. Essentially, all businesses and schools are closed, as well as any dine-in at restaurants. Yesterday, the number of infection was at an all-time high of 9,000, although today has seen a sharp decline, with "only" 6,999 infections. However, we cannot afford to be complacent - we currently have the unenviable record as the country with the highest infection rate.
2) A few days ago, we were informed of the changes that this lockdown would have to our education - clinicals have been completely cancelled, and replaced by ever-changing online schedules. At the start of the semester last year, our elective period was 8 weeks, and I had been very fortunate to be selected to represent my university as a bilateral exchange student to the National University of Singapore (NUS). After all the necessary preparations, this was completely scrapped, and the electives shortened to 4 weeks. We were once again required to look for elective opportunities, and only locally this time (amid fears of another lockdown). Once MCO 3.0 rolled along, this was cut to just 2 weeks, and then it really was not worth seeking out another elective placement. True enough, electives have now been cancelled entirely, and all the time, money, and effort spent in securing those placements - all for nothing. But you can bet your last dollar I'm adding the NUS elective to my CV.
3) Speaking from a medical standpoint, it is difficult for me to envisage all of this going away anytime soon. First, vaccine uptake has to be sufficient to ensure herd immunity (to protect those who are vulnerable and/ or are unable to receive the vaccine). Second, we need enough time to build up that immunity, so it is not feasible to just remove our masks the moment we have been vaccinated. Third, there is a possibility of booster shots being required in the future, as lifelong immunity is unlikely after just two shots. Fourth, there is a chance of seasonality in COVID-19, a bit like the influenza virus which spread seasonally each year due to a phenomenon called antigenic shift. In the case of COVID-19, we are seeing variant strains and even hybrids of these strains of virus in the community, making it all the more likely that infection rates may never disappear completely, but instead remain endemic in local areas. This may not be the news that everyone wants to hear, but it is something that we have to keep in mind.
4) But I would much prefer to end on a more positive note, which is that pandemics do end. The 1918 Spanish flu ended. The H5N1 influenza pandemic (Avian flu) ended. The 2003 SARS pandemic ended. Undeniably, at some point in time (in the very near future, I hope), the COVID-19 pandemic will end. Then it will become a thing of the past; a story to regale our children and grandchildren with. For as the old saying goes - this too, shall pass. And with that, I end my blog post here today. Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay strong in this most trying of times. Take care, and have a great week ahead. Cheers!
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