We're worse off since MCO 2.0

Good morning. MCO 2.0 was extended. Here's what you need to know.

Key Highlights

• Infectivity up
  
  
• Painful Covid-19 experiences
  
  
• China vaccine deal
  
  

Infectivity up

The Chinese New Year exodus on Feb 12 is unlikely to happen. MCO 2.0 was extended from Feb 4 to Feb 18.

Celebration rules will come later. From experience, interstate travel was also not allowed during last year’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri when a partial lockdown was in place.

Why the extension? We’re in a worse situation than when the MCO 2.0 started on Jan 13. At the time, the infectivity rate was 1.13.

It is now 1.15. That means for every 100 infected people, they spread the virus to 115 others. As long as the infectivity rate is above 1, cases will grow exponentially.

Below is the Health Ministry’s projection of future cases. The government promised more stringent enforcement.

HIGHLIGHTS

	Covid-19 infectivity high despite MCO 2.0 It's higher than before.
	Felcra, Felda villages under lockdown They are Felcra Nasaruddin and Felda Bersia.
	NGOs sue PM over emergency This is on the PM's advice to the Agong.

Painful Covid-19 experience

Your head feels like exploding - That was how Home Minister Hamzah Zainuddin described his Covid-19 experience.

Hamzah returned to duty yesterday after being diagnosed with Covid-19 on Jan 12. He is still undergoing physiotherapy.

He came back swinging, maintaining that Pejuang and Muda can’t be registered as political parties. He claimed they didn’t follow the rules.

Some were less fortunate. A UiTM hospital head nurse infected with Covid-19 had to undergo emergency Caesarean before she was intubated.

The baby girl won’t get a chance to know her mother. Artini Dzolkarnaini’s husband sent her off in full protective gear at a cemetery while other family members could only watch from afar.

HIGHLIGHTS

	Covid-19 claims nurse after daughter's birth She was an extraordinary head nurse.
	Umno president: I'm powerless  Zahid says he is falling on deaf ears.
	Najib's conviction appeal postponed A new date will be set today.

China vaccine deal

The deal is sealed. 1 million of China’s Sinovac vaccine will arrive next month. Why Sinovac when its efficacy varies widely between 50.4 percent and 91.25 percent?

Pharmaniaga Group which is importing the vaccine said those who still got infected after vaccination had less severe symptoms.

They added that the Brazil trial, despite reporting the lowest efficacy, saw none of those infected after vaccination needed hospitalisation.

The Pfizer-Biontech vaccine with an efficacy of 95 percent, will arrive at the end of the month amid concerns of EU’s export curbs.

Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the EU ambassador assured that it won’t affect the delivery to Malaysia.

HIGHLIGHTS

	Rural villagers fined for bus ride Cops say they must apply the law.
	Grim CNY for traders They are feeling the brunt of Covid-19.
	Malaysia's irony in Myanmar coup Putrajaya suspended Parliament before Myanmar did.

A daily glance at Covid-19

• 3,455 new cases yesterday (Feb 2).
  
  
• Daily deaths hit a new high of 21. Previous record was 18 on Jan 22.
  
  
• Patients in the intensive care unit (327) and on ventilators (145) climbed to record high.
  
  
• Malaysiakini also compiles daily locations affected by Covid-19 so you can take precaution.
  
  

What else is happening?

• Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak demanded former attorney-general Tommy Thomas retract his memoir, claiming it to be defamatory.
  
  
• The royal commission of inquiry into alleged corruption in the judiciary did not materialise purportedly due to objections by judges.
  
  
• A woman successful crowdfunded RM46,500 to refile her suit against a former cop who allegedly raped her.
  
  
  

HIGHLIGHTS

	Miri lockup rape case sent to Bukit Aman Sarawak cops waiting for instructions.
	PKR-PSB talks for Sarawak polls fall apart No compromises could be made.
	Umno wants 'new Covid-19 Czar' Umno veep says new approach needed.

What are people saying?

	Justice still in the wilderness? By R Nadeswaran
	On private hospitals and insurance companies By Wangsa Maju MP Tan Yee Kew
	Malaysia, help me bring back my father By Subi Mamat Yuksel

KINI LENS