With the number of cases averaging nearly 2,500 per day in the last week, there is much speculation that a movement control order, similar to the one imposed between March and May last year, will be imposed to curb the spread of Covid-19.

In a statement, the former deputy defence minister said that the health ministry’s “fixation” on daily case numbers was the “wrong key performance indicator.”

“Despite having more than 2,000 cases on average lately, I believe the number of reported cases is far short of what is really the case due to limited testing and contact tracing.

“Instead of complaining about the high number of cases we should be more worried that the health ministry hasn’t done enough tests and does not have effective contact tracing,” he said.

He added that the health ministry should not only test those with symptoms and the primary contacts of positive cases, but also make facilities available to all secondary contacts who wish to get tested.

A broader testing strategy would also prioritise prisoners and foreign workers living in dorms and employing the private sector to help perform additional tests.

“If we test more we will get a higher number for a while. Do not fear. Better to know the true situation than tricking ourselves with a false reality,” he said.

Additionally, he urged the government to allow asymptomatic cases to isolate at home given they have adequate space, and said the government needs to come out with clear SOPs on the matter.

He also called the “lives versus livelihoods” dichotomy false, and said a lacklustre response to the virus will end up slowing down overall economic recovery.

“If the government has to incur costs to ramp up testing capacity, hire a huge number of temporary contact tracers, hire more medical practitioners to help roll-out vaccines, please spend and spend like there’s no tomorrow, as long as the spending is accountable and with no corruption.

“If money can limit the spread of Covid-19, spend, don’t save!”