COVID-19 exit strategy: Transitioning towards a new normal

Shahrizan Jamaludin; Nor Azali Azmir; Ahmad Faisal Mohamad Ayob; Nasharuddin Zainal

doi:10.1016/j.amsu.2020.09.046

COVID-19 exit strategy: Transitioning towards a new normal

Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2020 Nov:59:165-170. doi: 10.1016/j.amsu.2020.09.046. Epub 2020 Oct 2.

Authors

Shahrizan Jamaludin^{1

2

3

4}, Nor Azali Azmir⁵, Ahmad Faisal Mohamad Ayob^{1

4}, Nasharuddin Zainal⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Maritime Technology, Faculty of Ocean Engineering Technology and Informatics, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Malaysia.
² Renewable Energy and Power Research Interest Group (REPRIG), Eastern Corridor Renewable Energy Special Interest Group, Faculty of Ocean Engineering Technology and Informatics, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Malaysia.
³ Marine Materials Research Interest Group, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Malaysia.
⁴ Naval Architecture Research Interest Group, Faculty of Ocean Engineering Technology and Informatics, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Malaysia.
⁵ Department of Engineering Mechanic, Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn, Malaysia.
⁶ Department of Electrical, Electronic and Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia.

Abstract

The COVID-19 outbreak from the SARS-CoV-2 virus has shocking us with its fast transmission and deadly complication. Due to that, the movement restriction has been enforced to contain this pandemic. Recently, there is an increasing pressure to restart and resurrect social and economic sectors, and to allow people to get back to work. This must be well planned before the movement restriction is lifted. Because of that, this paper aims to review and make recommendations on the new normal for our daily activities and works. Firstly, the social and economic sectors must be opening in phases by emphasizing safety and health than an economic recovery. In the meantime, the WHO recommendations on social distancing and personal hygiene must be adapted and become a new normal. Because of that, the government and local authorities should develop a soft landing approach based on the WHO recommendations. Next, the community must be engaged and empowered to do their parts in preventing the spread of COVID-19. From the new normal recommendations, the people can continue their daily routines, and at the same time can reduce COVID-19 transmission. However, medical possibilities are not considered while compiling these new normals and procedures. The population must adapt and embrace the new normal to control, reduce and prevent the spreading of COVID-19, as it could be with us for a long time.

Keywords: COVID-19; New normal; SARS-CoV-2; Safety and health; Soft landing approach.

Publication types

Review