More people are falling sick and seeking treatment at hospitals as the Air Pollutant Index readings seem to be going up in parts of the country. With the hazy and dry conditions, and Covid-19 still a concern, health experts are advising people to wear face masks when they are outdoors.
PETALING JAYA: Face masks now serve a dual purpose, protecting oneself from Covid-19 and also the haze that has been blanketing the country the past week, say experts.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Prof Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh is advising the public to continue masking up, especially the elderly and children, to protect them from the harmful effects of the haze.
She said the air pollution consists of fine particles that could enter the human body through the respiratory system and cause health problems.
“The fine particles can go into our breathing system through our throat and lungs, which may cause health issues such as bronchitis. It could also settle on the skin and eyes, which can cause irritation,” the professor and public health expert said.
As Hari Raya Aidilfitri approaches, Prof Sharifa said the public should try to reduce outdoor activities.
“It is important to wear a face mask when outside, especially an N95 that could block fine particles.
“Haze is always related to extreme heat that could lead to heat stroke; hence, staying hydrated is also the best way to ensure good health conditions,” she said.
Prof Sharifa also said that setting up air purifiers in the house would also help ensure the indoor air is free of pollutants.
She also said that before visiting an area during Hari Raya, the public are advised to check the air pollution index (API) of the location.
“If the area records bad API readings, then, if possible, avoid going there,” she said.
Malaysian Medical Association president Dr Muruga Raj Rajathurai concurred, saying that the public must stay informed about the haze and take heed of any warnings or advice from the authorities.
“Face masks will indeed serve a dual purpose if the haze is still around during the Aidilfitri holidays.
“It will also be important to stay hydrated as the heat can cause dryness of the throat and eyes,” he said.
To continuously ensure Covid19 can be contained, Dr Muruga also said the public must wear face masks when visiting houses where there are vulnerable groups, such as the elderly.
“Those with an existing respiratory illness will need to take extra care to avoid exposure to both the haze and Covid-19.
“Whether it’s the haze or Covid19, if you’re having trouble breathing, you should go to the emergency department of a hospital immediately,” he added.
Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa has advised the public to take precautionary measures as the haze situation is expected to worsen, with air quality dropping in several areas of the country.
“People should limit physical activities during the hot weather that could lead to illness.
“Limit being outdoors, use suitable face masks and protect yourselves from the haze by using umbrellas and caps to prevent direct exposure to the hot weather,” she said in a statement yesterday.
She urged the public to halt activities that would lead to air pollution, such as smoking, and to drink more warm water (at least eight glasses) to prevent dehydration.
According to a Swiss air quality index (AQI) monitoring company, a monitoring station in Kuala Lumpur recently recorded an unhealthy air quality of 117.
However, as of yesterday afternoon, almost all 68 air pollution index (API) stations in the country showed moderate readings below 100.
The website also forecast that the AQI in Kuala Lumpur on Friday (April 21) and Saturday (April 22), when Hari Raya Aidilfitri is expected, would be moderate, with readings of 80 or higher.
A growing body of evidence supports
the idea that wearing face masks in public, even when you feel well,
can help curb the spread of the coronavirus — since people can spread
the virus even without showing symptoms.That's the main reason to wear a mask: to protect other people from you.
Face
masks can also offer the wearer some protection — though how much
varies greatly, depending on the type of mask. No mask will offer full
protection, and they should not be viewed as a replacement for physical
distancing of at least 6 feet from others, frequent hand-washing and
avoiding crowds. When you combine masks with those measures, they can
make a big difference.
But what kind of mask is best?
When
choosing a mask, experts say focus on the fabric, fit and
breathability. How well a mask protects is a function of both what it's
made of and how well it seals to your face. But if you can't breathe
well through it, then you're less likely to keep it on.
In an interview with CGTN on April 3, China's top respiratory scientist Zhong Nanshan said lockdown measures adopted by some countries in Europe or the United States are not effective as they are not exactly implementing real lockdown. He said that the lockdown should go deeper and be stricter, stressing the importance of social distancing to stop the spread of the coronavirus. "Nobody can block, can stop the spreading or stop the infection of this kind of disease. But we can try to do our best to inhibit the spreading. So, that's what we are successful," he added.
US must take more stringent containment measures: top respiratory expert
Zhong Nanshan, 80, China's revered infectious disease expert, warned on Thursday that if the COVID-19 outbreak continues to worsen in the US, it could become a global issue, since the number of US confirmed cases account for almost a quarter of global cases.
"I am now gravely concerned with the epidemic in the US, and if it gets worse, it will become a global problem," Zhong said on Thursday night during a COVID-19 international experience sharing and exchange video conference.
Zhong said that he noticed a significant increase in the number of COVID19 patients in the US over the past few days, suggesting that the country has begun mass screening of its citizens.
Screening in the US is progressing very advanced, Zhong noted. It takes about 15-20 minutes for a patient to get test results, while it currently takes an hour and a half in China, he said.
"US has made much progress in testing and determining the infected patients, but tracing all their close contacts, separating them, isolating them and cutting the transmission chain is much important," Zhong said.
Zhong urged the US federal government to adopt stronger measures to stem the spread of the pandemic in the US.
The US has reported more than 241,000 cases as of late Thursday, almost a quarter of confirmed cases in the world, and more than 5,800 deaths.
The number of COVID-19 cases in the United States topped
300,000 by 3:40 p.m. local time Saturday (1940 GMT), according to the
Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins
University.
Whether the US and China can now pivot toward collaboration
where interests overlap will shape the degree of global cooperation
with regard to both more effectively combating the coronavirus and no
less, in the huge challenge of restarting the global economy.
Chinese coronavirus test kits are desperately clamored
for by many foreign clients, but some unfriendly Western media outlets
have chosen to smear and discredit made-in-China products.
Masks can help prevent people from being infected. The
suggestion is scientific and Asian countries have a lot of experience in
this regard. However, excessive cultural confidence has hindered the US
and European countries from giving due attention to the experience of
their Asian counterparts.
Ignorance is bliss
However, the kind ailing that United States' top brass has come at a devastasting cost to the Uncle Sam
https://youtu.be/sdre7SOd2hg
A news report appeared in the New York Times a week ago. It was probably glossed over, even in the Big Apple, as most New Yorkers struggle with overnight unemployment and keeping a roof over their heads.
It was conspicuously absent from CNN’s newsfeeds, too, despite its world-wide audience, as it remains preoccupied with ridiculing President Trump, while Fox News was per-script in blaming the virus on China.
Most of us outside the US were expectedly unaware of this significant event.
But on March 29, the NY Times reported about a commercial aircraft carrying 80 tonnes of gloves, masks, gowns and other medical supplies from Shanghai, touching down in New York last Sunday, marking the first of 22 scheduled flights that White House officials say will supply much-needed goods to the US by early April.
The NY Times is a credible 169-year-old American newspaper with a worldwide influence and readership. It has won 127 Pulitzer Prizes – more than any other newspaper.
The report quoted Lizzie Litzow, a spokeswoman for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, who said the plane delivered 130,000 N95 masks, 1.8 million face masks and gowns, 10 million gloves and thousands of thermometers for distribution in NY, New Jersey and Connecticut.
Apparently, there should be subsequent flights to Chicago and Ohio, where supplies will be despatched to other states using private-sector distribution networks.
Now, here’s the gem. The NY Times added, attributing a White House spokesman, that the shipment from China which arrived in NY was the product of a public-private partnership – led by President Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner – with major health care distributors including McKesson Corporation, Cardinal Health, Owens & Minor, Medline and Henry Schein.
Representatives from those companies had previously met with Trump at the White House.
So, while Trump was busy throwing punches at China, with his incessant China Virus remarks, he was, instead, quietly seeking help from the republic behind the scenes.
Trump isn’t the only one culpable, either. His Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, is equally pompous with his obsession in lambasting China for everything, including Covid-19, from which spawned the now-infamous “China Virus” line.
His remarks have become much more contagious than the virus itself with each passing day.
The virus struck Wuhan, China, in December last year, then spread to Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore, during which Trump was still dismissive of it.
He portrayed it as a mere flu bug, with his predictable barrage of false claims and fake news, and even until last month, he kept repeating that Covid- 19 was not as bad as the seasonal flu.
And of course, as the rest of Asia was busy stocking up on face masks, sterilisers and food supplies, he still insisted that “the United States is in a far better shape than other countries.”
None of us in Asia, especially, believed him. In fact, we feel sorry that many ordinary Americans didn’t wake up to the threat. Echoing their president’s sentiments, they assumed the US would be immune to it. Mr T shot from the hip again, and in his usual condescending manner.
After all, Asians deserve it, what with their filthy eating habits and dirty animal markets, right?
The British likely thought the same, and continued to attend huge gatherings like football matches, and went on pub crawls and walks in the park, too.
Asians watched in exasperation at the continuing nonchalance of these people.
Incredibly, as the bodies pile up at the morgue, there are US leaders who continue to engage in the meaningless blame game.
If they think they can gain sympathy with this inane approach, they should know that the virus isn’t going away, and eventually, victims will wise up. And as leaders, they will still have to tackle this health disaster.
As of now, US health workers have resorted to rationing protective gear or using homemade supplies, with the Department of Health and Human Services saying it estimates the US will require 3.5 billion masks if the pandemic lasts a year.
The NY Times, quoting Litzow, said “the overwhelming demand has set off a race among foreign countries, American officials at all levels of government and private individuals to acquire protective gear, ventilators and other much-needed goods from China, where newly built factories are churning out supplies even as China’s own epidemic wanes.”
It added that the US was working with manufacturers from Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan, India, Honduras and Mexico.
Until a few months ago, the US was halting trade with China, imposing barriers and tariffs, and kicking out US-based Chinese scientists, but now, the NY Times reports that “American governors, mayors and lawmakers have been trying to arrange their own shipments of products from China, with some saying the federal government has been moving too slowly, which risks losing out to other foreign buyers.
“American officials have leaned on sister cities and province relationships, liaison offices they had set up in China to attract investment and connections with state-run Chinese companies to try to secure scarce equipment.”
It also said that the private sector, comprising a motley crew of wealthy individuals, charitable organizations and corporate executives with connections to China, have also stepped forward to help deliver goods to the United States.
Tragically, as Italy and Spain, among other nations, battle helplessly against the Covid-19 virus, the European Union’s miserable failure casts a long shadow. No EU member has sent aid to their Italian brethren.
The politicians can question China’s motives in its aid offer, in what is now dubbed the “face mask diplomacy”, but real help goes a long way in tough times. Talk is cheap, President Trump.
Representing the private sector, Jack Ma, the Chinese billionaire and co-founder of Alibaba, donated a million masks and 500,000 test kits to the US.
Other benefitting countries of the masks will include Spain, Belgium and France, with the same resource already sent to Czech Republic, Greece and Serbia.
For Malaysia, China has donated 100,008 units of novel coronavirus nucleic acid diagnostic (PCR-Fluorescence Probing) test kits, 100,000 pieces of N95 face masks, 500,000 pieces of surgical masks, 50,000 units of personal protective equipment (PPE) and 200 ventilators.
The Committee of 100, a leadership organisation of Americans of Chinese descent, has raised US$1mil (RM4.3mil) to purchase medical supplies and protective gear from around the world to help their country.
Against this backdrop of generosity and care, Pompeo still had time to hold a global teleconference on March 29, as he continued his offensive on China for its alleged campaign of misinformation on the virus.
