Izah Azahari
The public must continue to take precautions in daily activities in the Early Endemic Phase while adapting themselves to the COVID-19 era.
This was said by Senior Medical Officer of Public Health at the Ministry of Health Dr Pengiran Sirajul Adli bin Pengiran Haji Jamaludin during the ‘Life in the Endemic Phase’ programme on Radio Television Brunei (RTB) yesterday.
Endemic, Dr Pengiran Sirajul Adli said, refers to the phase where the coronavirus has begun to show that it will always be around, adapting to human life. Thus, he urged the public to find a way to live with the disease and ensure that the populace is in control of the situation.
“Each country will have a different outcome in the endemic phase, depending on the rate of transmission, immunisation through vaccination or infection, and the healthcare system,” he said.
With a high vaccination rate against COVID-19, a country’s population will be protected from severe symptoms and death caused by the disease, he said, adding that detecting spread in the Endemic Phase is expected.
Dr Pengiran Sirajul Adli cited other communicable diseases, such as dengue and the hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), that are endemic in the Sultanate, thus is always at a stable rate of infection.
Being in the Endemic Phase allows the populace to assume responsibility of their own health, against all diseases declared in the period.
“We need to find a way to change our daily routines. Living with COVID-19 is unlikely to come to an end in the near future,” he added.
The programme also featured a questions-and-answers session between medical officers and viewers.
