Target Red Zones For Lockdown

Only red zones should be locked down while businesses in green zones should be allowed to operate in order to revive the economy.

Target red zones for lockdown — Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels

By Michael Tay, who is the Johor Covid-19 Pandemic Taskforce chairman, and also Johor MCA Government Coordinating Chairman.

It is not logical nor does it make economic sense to lock down the safe zones or compare Johor with other states that have a high Covid-19 infection rate.

I would urge the Federal Government and also the Johor Menteri Besar to allow eateries, hair salons and shopping malls which are not in the red zones to reopen.

It’s not about getting vaccinated anymore. People’s savings are depleting due to the pandemic. Some have already started using their retirement funds.

We should follow Sabah’s model. The Federal Government should not impose excessive restrictions on any state which do not have a high infectivity rate.

I once again urge the Federal Government to let the Menteri Besar and his committee of health professionals from the state to draw up their own SOPs in battling the pandemic.

The Menteri Besar should know the red zones, the safe zones, and the landscape and demography of his state better than anyone else. If the Menteri Besar of a state is not a health expert, then the health personnels from the top hospitals should be tasked to advise him.

The public would thank the Federal Government if businesses can re-open, as many entrepreneurs and industries are hanging by a thread over the continued lockdown.

Food court and restaurants that offer only takeaways are not earning enough to sustain their business.

The Federal Government should adopt a decentralized approach. Let each state have its own SOP.

I sympathise with the healthcare workers but I also hear the pleas of small business owners and those who have lost their jobs, who have depleted all their savings and are turning into paupers, some are resorting to a life of crime while some are contemplating suicides.

It has been reported that textile and apparel factories have ceased operations since last year, leaving about 6,000 employees retrenched. The chain reaction of that was numerous small-medium enterprises have also shut down or downsized causing about 15,000 to lose their jobs.

The problem with Selangor having such huge spike in the number of Covid-19 cases is because of the foreign workers in factories. Many of these workers are believed to be illegal, so they try to avoid getting caught. Majikan perlu ambil tanggungjawab saring pekerja asing

Factory owners should conduct tests at their own premises and isolate the workers who tested positive. This would prevent the infected ones from spreading the virus to others.

Targeted lockdowns should be practiced, and those who have received two doses of the vaccine should be allowed more freedom, if they are well. So, please don’t miss your appointment if you have been called up.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in Your Say are those of the contributor, not the blog owner.

July 18, 2021 0

Time To Wave A White Flag?

Is it time to wave a white flag (bendera putih)? Our existing SOP is obviously ineffective and perhaps a change of strategy is needed. This uphill battle must be exhausting!

By Michael Tay, who is the Johor Covid-19 Pandemic Taskforce chairman, and also Johor MCA Government Coordinating Affairs Chairman.

The total number of Covid-19 cases stood at 751,979 nationwide on June 30, with 6,276 new cases and 62 deaths.

Should we be reviewing our Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and maybe consider a change of strategy to fight the coronavirus?

The first Movement Control Order (MCO) was introduced to break the chain of Covid-19 on March 18, 2020 and since then, there has been the Conditional Movement Control Order, Recovery Movement Control Order, MCO 2.0, MCO 3.0

And Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin reportedly said that the MCO will only be lifted when daily new Covid-19 cases are less than 4,000.

Since the number is not going down and doesn’t look like it’s going down anytime soon — and the Prime Minister is having diarrhoea! — why not delegate the task of reducing the number of Covid-19 cases to the Menteri Besar (MB) or Chief Minister of each state?

We can follow the US model where a country with 50 states, each has its own SOP.

If the MBs are empowered to come up with their own SOPs instead of following a standardised SOP, would this bring down the infection rate?

The MB should know the red zones, the landscape and demography of his state better than anyone else.

It’s going to be a monumental task, so the MB and his own committee comprising personnels from the top hospitals in the state, will still need the assistance of the Federal Government.

But if given more power, the MB may be able to do a better job. He could draw up another SOP to complement the standardised SOP. A case in point is, the re-opening of the MPH bookstores at Vivacity Megamall and The Spring in Sarawak on June 29 based on a statement from the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee, while outlets in other states remain closed.

I believe if Johor can reduce the number of Covid-19 cases, it would be able to regain the confidence of its neighbours and attract the Singaporeans to shop and invest in the state again.

This is a win-win situation as it will also ease the burden of the Prime Minister, Senior Minister (security) Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah and National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme Coordinating Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, who are the ones calling all the shots right now with one SOP implemented nationwide.

It should not be a centralised system, like what we are practising now. Delegation is a management skill that will lead to specialisation. This is not a call for Tan Sri Muhyiddin and his team to surrender. They just need to review and revamp the existing SOP and come up with a more effective SOP. It is also about time the MBs shoulder more responsibility and show their leadership in reviving the state economy and curbing the infection rate as the vaccination programme is carried out.

I take this opportunity to thank the Prime Minister for announcing the National People’s Well-Being and Economic Recovery Package (PEMULIH), which is going to alleviate the financial burden faced by those who have lost their jobs due to the pandemic.

The RM300,000 which will be distributed to all Members of Parliament, regardless of which camp they are in, is a good move but it should be done quickly and properly to ensure the money is channeled to those who are in financial distress.

On another matter, many people are happy with the 6-month bank loan moratorium, but we also mustn’t overstrain the banks by having one moratorium after another. I know some banks have already closed a number of their branches. You’re unlikely to see banks waving a bendera putih or white flag as they’re consolidating. They’ll just collapse.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in Your Say are those of the contributor, not the blog owner.

Deliver On Your Promises, Please!

Vaccinated for Covid-19 — Michael Tay got his first jab on May 23rd.

Covid-19 Vaccination — Mild side-effects after the jab.

By Michael Tay, who is the Johor Covid-19 Pandemic Taskforce chairman.

I would like to inform the public that I have received my first shot of the Covid-19 vaccine on 23rd May and the side effects were pretty mild. I’m looking forward to getting my second shot on the 13th of June.

I’m saying this to reassure some people who have come up to me and expressed reluctance to sign up for vaccination out of fear that there’ll be adverse effects after the vaccination.

I assure you there is nothing to worry about. Everyone will react differently to the vaccine but for a person who has been vaccinated, the chances of dying from Covid-19 is significantly reduced.

So, I urge everyone to sign up at MySejahtera if they have not done so yet. There are some who have registered since January but have not received any notifications yet. I would like the relevant authorities to expedite the vaccination for those who have already registered.

For those who do not know how to register, please reach out for help as there are numerous support channels. Please get yourselves registered to have better protection against the virus.

I experienced only mild side effects after the first dose in May, but reading these articles is really making my head spin. No, there’s nothing wrong with the news reports but the figures are mind-boggling.

In this article, it was stated Johor will receive up to 100,000 more Covid-19 jabs so that the Johor-Singapore borders can be re-open in June.

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/johor-to-receive-up-to-100000-more-covid-19-vaccines-for-malaysian-workers-aims-to

In another report, as of May 17, the number of people who have been vaccinated in the state was not even 10 per cent. Only 104,263 or 8.49 per cent have received their first dose while 70,488 or 5.74% have received two doses. The number of people who have registered was reportedly 1.22 million.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/05/20/ex-johor-exco-members-say-govt-should-be-flexible-and-step-up-vaccinations

In another report, several community leaders noted that 1.5 million of Johor’s 3.6 million residents have registered for the vaccines but there were only 26 Covid-19 centres throughout Johor. This translates to about 50,000 people or 100,000 doses of vaccine per vaccination centre.

https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2021/06/02/johor-pakatan-reps-urge-putrajaya-to-study-lack-of-vaccine-centres-for-stat/1979022

Then there was a very optimistic article where Pharmaniaga Berhad said it has the capacity to churn out 12 million doses to the Federal Government.

https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2021/06/01/pharmaniaga-supplying-covid-19-vaccines-to-states-glcs-now-adham/

And most recently, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad said the state is trying to get half a million doses of vaccines from Singapore and China to boost the State’s Immunisation Programme?

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/06/03/johor-hoping-to-get-half-a-million-more-doses-from-singapore-or-china

All is good. Everyone’s making the effort to battle the coronavirus.

For Johor to achieve herd immunity through vaccination, about 80% of the population will need to be innoculated.

With the Movement Control Order enforced, the number of cases is still very high. I can’t imagine what the numbers will be if there were no MCO.

But what still baffles me is the numbers. I would like the coordinating minister for the National Immunisation Programme, Khairy Jamaluddin to provide us more concrete answers and not just utter promises.

Are we able to achieve the target if those who have registered in January are still waiting for their turn? And what about those who have yet to register?

Even after the Singapore-Johor borders are re-opened, I doubt the situation will return to normal anytime soon as the spending power of the people and mindsets have changed due to the pandemic.

With 2.8 million of the population in Johor still waiting for their vaccination in order to achieve herd immunity in the shortest possible time so that the economy can thrive again, we’re really counting on the Federal Government, our neighbour and also China for some assistance.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in Your Say are those of the contributor, not the blog owner.

Unite Against Hate Crimes

For peace and racial harmony to prevail, Americans need to unite against hate crime. Love thy neighbour, love one another not hate!

By Michael Tay, Johor MCA Government Coordinating Affairs chairman.

Kudos to the New York police commissioner and chief for taking swift action in arresting and charging the 38-year-old man who had attacked a defenceless 65-year-old Asian woman outside a luxury apartment building.

I have nothing but praise for NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea who said all who lived in the city was a New Yorker and NYPD chief Rodney Harrison who urged the people to say or do something if they were to come across any hate crime, such as calling 911.

I also want to thank New York Governor Mr Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Mr Bill de Blasio, who both played a vital role in ensuring justice is delivered and expressing their outrage and disgust for the hate crimes.

laws against hate crimes in the united states

Americans, regardless of their ethnicity and race, have to stand united against hate crime and be part of the solution in order for the hate and violence to stop.

Today marks the 53^rd anniversary of Dr Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination. The Civil Rights leader was gunned down in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968.

Martin Luther King Jr. had said “judge not by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character” and “all men are created equal”.

Has the younger generation forgotten the struggles of their forefathers and the legacy of this great leader, who had signed the Emancipation Proclamation which came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of black slaves?

The Asian Americans are facing challenging times now. Being a minority in America, they are feeling isolated and living in fear.

Please read my previous anti-Asian hate posts

The Fight For Racial Justice

Asian-American Community – We Stand By You

I also support President Joe Biden’s call on congress to pass a ban on weapons and tighten gun laws. There’s been too many reports of mass shootings and senseless killings. The President certainly has a Herculean task of uniting the different races in America.

Assault weapons with high-capacity and semi automatic and automatic rifles should be banned in all states. The National Rifle Association has to beef up on gun control acts and legislators to create a more effective gun control policy. They need to take more stringent measures such as conducting background checks on people who are buying guns.

Guns should only be bought for the sole purpose of protection and self-defence, not for venting anger and frustration.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in Your Say are those of the contributor, not the blog owner.

April 4, 2021 0

The Fight For Racial Justice

The trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin charged with the killing of George Floyd is a fight for racial justice.

The world is watching to see if justice will prevail. As Reverend Al Sharpton says: “Chauvin is in the courtroom, but America is on trial.”

Asians, Americans, Blacks — Photo by Brett Sayles from Pexels

By Michael Tay, Johor MCA Government Coordinating Affairs chairman.

I strongly believe that Reverend Al, an American civil rights activist, can help the Asian Americans in the US. He is a well-respected leader in the Black Community, and if he were to speak for the Asian Americans, racial confrontation between the African Americans and Asian Americans will cease or lessen at least.

Another Black leader that came to my mind is political activist, Jess Jackson.

Now why am I, Michael Tay, Johor MCA Government Coordinating Affairs chairman so interested in the plight of the Asian Americans?

Firstly, I have relatives living in the US and they are living in fear. It is the rights of all humans to live with dignity, not in fear.

Secondly, the anti-Western sentiment is already sweeping across China where the people there are boycotting US and Western products. If the US government doesn’t curb the bashing of Asians in the US, the anti-Western sentiment is only going to spread across Asia. Racial justice must prevail for democracy and harmony to return.

Although all these incidents occur far from my home, Malaysia, there will be a domino effect and it will affect trade and tourism once the international borders are open. Would you want to go the US for a holiday if Asian bashing is not curbed?

I was quite shaken when I saw the subway fight between a Black man and what looked like an Asian man in a video that had gone viral. The Asian man was of a smaller build and appeared to have lost consciousness after the Black man had him in a chokehold.

Asians are a minority in the US. They need all the help and protection, especially those who are innocent and defenceless. An Asian war veteran was recently questioned about his loyalty to the country which he had served. And he has the scars to prove his loyalty.

I’m glad that there are events and rallies jointly organised by Blacks and Asians across America to combat anti-Asian racism. But more needs to be done.

There ought to be more public awareness campaigns on the coronavirus as it is still uncertain how the virus came about. Calling it the Wuhan virus, China virus or Chinese virus is just going to stir up hatred and anger for the wrong reasons.

I urge the US government and Black community leaders to step up efforts to protect the Asian Americans. Let the fight for racial justice and inclusion be everyone’s commitment and responsibility.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in Your Say are those of the contributor, not the blog owner.

March 30, 2021 1

Asian American Community: We Stand By You

Being a Malaysian Chinese living in an Asian country, my heart weeps for the Asian American community that is facing a rising tide of hate crimes in the United States of America.

Asian American Community: We Stand By You

By Michael Tay, Johor MCA Government Coordinating Affairs chairman.

Asians worldwide mourn the deaths of the 556,036 people who have died from the coronavirus in the US, a nation hardest hit by Covid-19. We do not see them as Blacks, Whites or Yellows nor were they mere statistics. They’re someone’s child, someone’s spouse, brother, sister or parent.

I can understand the pain and grief felt by those who have lost their loved ones, and my heart bleeds for them but the bashing of Asians currently taking place in the US is beyond my comprehension.

News reports revealed some 41 million citizens have been fully vaccinated while 75 million have been given one dose of the vaccine (as of time of writing). Soon, the US population will achieve herd immunity through vaccination, and normalcy is expected to return. The economy will boom again, and people will find employment.

So, I don’t understand the flare-up of the anti-Asian stigma which has resulted in violence and deaths of innocent victims. This is striking fear and terror in everyone’s hearts, even someone who is living some 15,000km from the US.

Imagine the emotional turmoil of Asians who are currently in the US.

When an African-American man, Mr George Floyd died on May 25, Asians were sympathetic and had come together to support the Black Lives Matter movement. Floyd’s death sparked reactions across Asia. Even though one of policemen who were at the scene of the killing was Asian American, this should not be a reason to attack the Asian American community.

America used to be a beacon of democracy, a beacon of light for the rest of the world.

I had studied and worked in the US, spent about 8 years of my life in ? near New York. I have immense respect for Caucasians, Blacks, the Latinos, and most of the Americans I’ve met there. They made me feel at home.

You can read my previous blog posts about my thoughts about the US and I care about the country and its citizens.

Anti-Racism Watchdog

Take Covid-19 Seriously

World Economies

The US today, is not the US that I used to know. All the bigotry and hate crimes against Asians has got to stop. If Asians in the US are facing discrimination and living in insecurity and fear of getting beaten up or even losing their lives from day to day, then I hope they will consider coming to Malaysia. Invest in Malaysia, build a new life in Malaysia.

In Asian countries, such as Malaysia, we do not bash up people because of their race. No matter what is your race, you can walk on our street and feel safe.

Asian students who are currently studying in the US should consider coming to Malaysia and continuing their studies here, as there are international universities in Malaysia. Those who feel threatened should turn to their respective embassies for assistance.

All this hatred and blame is not going to bring back the 556,036 people who have died. Please stop the hate. Respect President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris who are strongly condemning the attacks on Asian Americans, and exercise some self-restraint. I’m happy to read this news

Biden Pushes House-Passed Gun Reforms In The Wake Of Colorado Mass Shooting

Asians are not to be blamed for the pandemic. Once the US has achieved herd immunity from vaccination, things will go back to normal.

Meanwhile, the US government should set up the mechanism and infrastructure to protect the Asian American community there.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in Your Say are those of the contributor, not the blog owner.

March 24, 2021 1

Laughing Together To Achieve World Peace

and enhance physical, mental and emotional health

Covid-19 has opened up a window of opportunities for virtual laughter clubs to open worldwide, as people want to laugh amid the gloom.

Dr Madan Kataria’s keynote address before launching the first ever Mega Laughter Malaysia event held on the 6th of Feb on Zoom and attended by laughter enthusiasts from across the globe.

Depression is the No. 1 sickness in the world. There is no treatment for depression. Those suffering from depression need support, love and care and this is what the Laughter Yoga Movement stands for.

Laughter benefits one’s physical, mental and emotional health.

Everybody can laugh when everything is ok. Virtual Laughter Yoga clubs have sprouted since the pandemic. From what had started as a recreation activity in a neighbourhood park in Mumbai, India in 1995, Laughter Yoga is now practiced in 115 countries.

Dr Madan’s vision to achieve World Peace through Laughter is also manifesting this year as the non-profit organisation has been given the green light to build two headquarters — one in India (Nashik) and one in the United States (California).

The good doctor also praised the Malaysian team, namely the Johor Bahru Happy and Joyous Club, and Laughter Yoga Malaysia for the success of the Mega Laughter Malaysia event and for bringing Laughter Yoga to hospitals, dialysis centres, cancer patients, among others, over the last decade.

February 7, 2021 0

Herd Immunity Through Vaccination Is The Answer To Economic Recovery

“Mass innoculation will enable life to return to normalcy where we can come out and mingle with one another without any fear of getting infected with the coronavirus.”

By Michael Tay, Johor MCA Government Coordinating Affairs chairman.

Herd Immunity Through Vaccination Is The Answer To Economic Recovery — Michael Tay is also the chairman of the Board of Visitors for Hospital Sultanah Aminah in Johor Bahru.

I’ve seen far too many “To Let/For Sale” signs on gates and roller shutter doors of shops and houses in Johor, Malaysia, lately.

People are selling their houses due to cash flow difficulties and many have depleted their savings since the pandemic. Some have not eaten for 2 to 3 days, and the number of homeless people in Johor is increasing.

All this negativity is indeed depressing, which is why I would like to urge the government to roll out the coronavirus vaccination programme and get as many people vaccinated as soon as possible.

Herd immunity is the answer to reviving Johor as well as Malaysia’s ailing economy which has been badly hit by the Movement Control Order 2.0 To achieve herd immunity, about 23 million or 70% of the Malaysian population needs be vaccinated.

It has been reported that retail businesses nationwide has dipped about 90% during the first week of MCO 2.0 as the apparel segment had to cease operation.

Consumer confidence has been affected by the pandemic and job uncertainty, prompting many to stay at home and be more prudent with their spending.

I would like an update on the negotiation with the Beijing-based biopharmaceutical company Sinovac, the manufacturer of CoronaVac. Why is the vaccine not here yet, when neighbouring countries Indonesia and Singapore have already launched their immunisation programmes?

Indonesia recently rolled out its mass free Covid-19 vaccination programme with its President, Mr Joko Widodo affectionately known as Jokowi, being the first person in the country to receive the first jab of the CoronaVac. Indonesia targeted those age 18 to 59 to receive the vaccine shots in the maiden phase of its immunisation programme.

Singapore received its first batch of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 in December 2020. However, there were reservations among Singaporeans toward taking the vaccines.

I can’t wait for my turn to get vaccinated. However, I would prefer to receive the vaccine which only require one dose instead of the Moderna, or Pfizer/BioNTech and other vaccines that need two shots — a priming dose followed by a booster shot. But that is, if I were given the choice. If there’s really no option then I would take any vaccine that comes my way.

But I would suggest that we start assembling our frontliners and volunteers now for deployment to all vaccine distribution and administration centres. The people who will be administering the jabs must be well prepared for the large number expected to throng public hospitals in urban, suburban and rural areas once the immunisation programme is rolled out.

The Prime Minister’s Message To The Rakyat

Last month, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin did say that over 80% of Malaysia’s population (close to 27 million people) are expected to be vaccinated by the 1^st quarter of 2021.

Malaysia is going to be the first country outside China to carry out the clinical trial of a Covid-19 vaccine candidate made by the Institute of Medical Biology Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, China which will involve 3,000 volunteers.

You can read more about Malaysia’s immunisation plan in the link below.

https://www.pmo.gov.my/2021/01/3000-volunteers-in-phase-3-clinical-trial-for-covid-19-vaccine-pm-muhyiddin/

My Advice: Consult A Doctor Before Getting A Vaccination

I would like to advise those who have diabetes, hypertension or any other comorbidities to consult a family doctor or any qualified physician prior to getting the vaccination.

Malaysia reportedly has one of the highest number of diabetic patients in Asia, with approximately 3.9 million people over the age of 18 which is 1 in 5 adults with this disease.

For those who do not have underlying health issues, I would urge them not to hesitate in getting themselves vaccinated as only when there is herd immunity can there be hope for life to return to normalcy. We will then be able to come out and mingle with one another no longer fearful of getting infected with the coronavirus, like the good old days where retail outlets, hotels, fitness centres and eateries were abuzz with activities.

Michael Tay: Herd Immunity Is The Answer To Economic Recovery

Disclaimer: The views expressed in Your Say are those of the contributor, not the blog owner.

January 23, 2021 2

Malaysians Love Georganic Moisturisers

More Malaysians are sharing their thoughts on Georganic Moisturisers, namely, Goat Milk Brightening Cream, Centella Ceramide Moisturising Balm and Bifida Mineral Water Cream.

Read the first batch of reviews which were also done by Malaysians here

Click on the pictures to read their reviews posted on Instagram.

Non sticky or greasy cream. I always apply the cream during day and night time. Best result when you always stay under the air conditioner as it keeps my skin hydrate.
By betliew

Great for someone with dry skin or extremely dry skin it helps improve the skin’s oil-water balance. texture is so thick like balm but spreads on the skin nicely very comfortable. It has a unique scent
By atibeauty_y

I have combination skin & after some times my Tzone get a bit oily but my cheek area stay hydrated. Anyhow you can adjust amount of product according to your preference.
By suriabdulrahman

In a nutshell, goatmilk has the most resemblance to human milk (protein structure), making it familiar to our body, the pH is same as human skin and its rich in lactic acid (AHA) and act as gentle exfoliator.
By caramelskindiary

Georganic is a Korean skincare brand, brought exclusively to Malaysia by Modern Essentials.

Georganic moisturisers use natural ingredients without synthetic additives. It’s also stated that the manufacturers love animals and hence, no animal testing was carried out. The products are also approved by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA), Ministry of Health Malaysia.

January 5, 2021 1

World Economies

sphere shaped miniature of earth with googly eyes

The Health of World Economies Will Depend On The Relationship Between China and the US

sphere shaped miniature of earth with googly eyes, world economies will depend on the relationship between china and the US — Photo by Anna Shvets on Pexels.com

By Michael Tay, Johor MCA Government Coordinating Affairs chairman.

I am glad that China is committed to reducing its carbon intensity in accordance with the Paris Agreement, after years of negotiations with international world bodies.

This move will certainly improve the recurring radical global climate change and prevent sea levels from encroaching into land masses.

The relationship between China and the US of great concern as the health of the world economies will depend upon this relationship, as global unemployment figures will largely be dependent upon these two intertwined economies.

Neither countries can afford to be mutually exclusive especially during the Covid 19 pandemic that has battered many countries economically.

We do not need a double down whammy situation anymore as the entire world is struggling to survive economically already and further polarisations of countries are no longer the prevailing trends or formula for survival anymore.

The most imperative and most important agenda is to bring down the Covid-19 infections rate whereby some form of semblance will prevail and be normalised again and international flights can be resumed for FDI to prevail and for international cash flows to be resumed.

Many rich countries have stockpiles of reserves ready to be reinvested after the pandemic is over but we must also hope that this pandemic can be brought down under control and a killer “disinfectant” of this ferocious Covid 19 can be discovered pronto in order to avoid further depletion of any stock pile reserves for future usage and/or investments.

Already this virus has depleted the stockpiles of reserves of numerous countries. The rich countries will have to help the poorer countries to ensure a faster recovery.

The World Health Oorganisation (WHO) has pledged to help poorer countries to procure Covid-19 vaccines. This is admirable of WHO.

Another big question is how fast can these pharmaceutical companies produce these 100 million vaccines ordered by President elect Joe Biden? Will it take half a year or one year for the roll out, while people are still getting infected and dying before the vaccine reaches them?

Clearly many governments are going to bear the brunt of footing the costs of these free vaccines which will run into the billions of dollars. But I have the fullest confidence that if the entire world comes together and fight against this common enemy we will triumph against the coronavirus. Clearly this is a matter of political determination, will and a hunger for medical and political success.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in Your Say are those of the contributor, not the blog owner.

January 3, 2021 1