GEORGE TOWN: The Consumers' Association of Penang (CAP) has reminded Malaysians, especially the elderly to stop going to the market daily due to the worrying state of Covid-19 infections.
CAP Education Officer N. V. Subbarow said the sight of senior citizens and children thronging crowded markets and supermarkets is not a good thing, and consumers should instead plan their grocery shopping by going to such places once in three or four days.
"CAP believes that the Covid-19 incidents are likely to decrease if consumers reduce their daily visits to the markets and supermarkets and stop this daily buying culture.
"Otherwise, very soon we will have over 5,000 or more Covid-19 cases daily.
"Many elderly people can still be seen going to wet markets everyday. Some even carry children regularly. This shows their indifferent attitude," he told the New Straits Times today.
He urged consumers to temporarily stop going to the market every day to buy vegetables and other edibles such as chicken, fish and eggs.
Subbarow said the cooperation of everyone, including consumers, was vital in reducing the number of new infections of Covid-19.
Elaborating, Subbarow said consumers, in particular, go to markets every day to buy vegetables and other ingredients used in cooking, with some spending hours in the market just to buy a single item.
"Consumers need to get used to stopping this daily buying culture. They should plan to use it for the next three or four days once purchased. Hundreds of consumers go to markets and supermarket every day.
"It hurts to have the elderly among those who go to markets daily. It is not known how many of them have diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
"As such, it is wise for everyone to exercise self-discipline and self-control," he added.
For a year now, Subbarow pointed, the government has been repeating the rules to follow daily.
"However, donkey-aged adults still spend the night at entertainment centres, birthday parties and pubs until dawn.
"No matter how much they are fined, they do not seem to change. Maybe caning is the only weapon to correct them," he said.
Subbarow also warned that Malaysians must be prepared to avoid bed shortages for infectious patients.
"According to the Health Minister, the beds at Covid-19 hospitals in seven states have reached maximum level.
"This is shocking information. If we are still indifferent and go out often for no reason, we have to prepare for the next Covid-19 new wave.
"To further compound the situation, the Health director-general has revealed the emergence of four new variants nemely the South African (B.1.351), United Kingdom (B.117) Indian (B.1.617) and Brazilian (P.1), which is a cause for concern.
"The time has come for us to protect ourselves and our families," he said.