Addressing the Socio-economic Impacts: Local Perspectives
There is no doubt that the imposed movement control order in Malaysia will have adverse economic impacts; however, the government has been quick to respond by announcing an economic stimulus plan to weather this difficult period. Numerous important bodies, including the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Higher Education, are exploring the technology drivers of the present and the future to prevent and manage future epidemics and pandemics (Figure 5). Weaknesses have been identified and improvements are being explored before government action plans are made (25).
Another impact is on day-to-day work. Since many people are working from home, there is an urgent need to make better internet and software applications available for virtual meetings. From the healthcare perspective, telemedicine will play a greater role. Stable patients needing regular follow-ups, as well as patients in clinical trials, can be directed to tele-health services. These services could even be used for COVID-19 patients as a form of ‘forward triage’ before they arrive at emergency departments (26).
In addition, this unique crisis has provided an opportunity to improve online education from home. Almost 5 million school students and 1.2 million university students (including about 130,000 international students) in Malaysia have been affected by closures (27). Distance learning is not new for Malaysians and can be traced back to the 1990s but times have changed with rapid advancements in technology and new teaching innovations. Due to COVID-19, online learning is no longer merely an option; however, adopting virtual technologies and ensuring the readiness of students and institutions can be challenging (27). In this regard, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) is taking a leadership role as a model for other learning institutions in the country.
Finally, there has been a rise in research and collaborative opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic (28). This is the time when scientists and clinicians should come out from their shining silos to work together and share their research data. Doing so will lead to more effective curbing of the disease and more rapid advancements in viral therapeutics. Therefore, we, the editorial members, urge the scientific community and the public to rise to the challenge, change their mindsets and stay safe and healthy whether you are at home or at work.