Reduction of R-Naught does not indicate case of infection will decline - Public Health Specialist

KUALA LUMPUR: The reduction in the rate of infectivity (Rt) or R-Naught (R0) from 2.2 to 1.1 in the country currently provides some relief to the frontline staff and the community.

However, according to Public Health Specialist, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Associate Professor Dr Malina Osman, the reduction of the R-Naught does not give an indication that positive COVID-19 cases will decline.

On the other hand, she explained, the transmission of COVID-19 also depends on factors in the field, including compliance with standard operating procedures (SOP) by the local community.

"However, the value of R-Naught alone is not an indication to show in the present and in the future whether we expect the case to decline. It is not necessarily so. Many other circumstances contribute to the case factor occurring in the field.

"So, the value of the R-Naught is to inform, that what the government is doing is appropriate. But for us at the community level, we should continue with the SOP measures. We cannot say when the R-Naught has come down, we can loosen the steps on security control and SOP.

“That is an inappropriate measure. We need to remain serious to comply with the SOP and comply with what the MOH has informed," she said.

In addition, the aggressive action by the frontline task force, especially the MOH, was very timely in successfully lowering the R-Naught value from 2.2 to 1.1 at this time.

In fact, Dr Malina explained, the Movement Control Order (MCO), the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) and the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) in an area of COVID-19 transmission, were the government's best measures in curbing the spread of COVID-19 and should have the continued support of the people.