“THE new normal” is a term that has been bandied about in the last five weeks as leaders around the world scramble to deal with the immediate and long-term effects of Covid-19.

With much still unknown about the virus, and without a safe, proven vaccine available for at least the next 12 months, politicians and medical experts have been mentally preparing their charges for adjustments that they believe must be made as we brace for the seemingly inevitable heightened health alertness and lowered social activity post-pandemic.

The questions of what exactly the new normal entails, how long it will last and just how much precaution should be taken remain largely unanswered. Even as we pass the one-month mark of the movement-control order (MCO) and five since the virus emerged, we seem unsure about finalising what can and cannot be done, other than a few high-level guidelines in the form of a two-tier restriction, namely the MCO and enhanced MCO, that is based on green, yellow, orange and red zones.

It is unusual for the highly regimented healthcare sector and military to learn as they go, but now, they are faced with an extraordinary and untested situation. They are doing their level best to tackle the disease with the latest information available, and that itself is constantly changing.

With the regular models out of the window, we have to prepare for multiple scenarios. As the number of new infections decreases, we should work and get feedback on an exit strategy, or a “soft landing” as it has been described. This covers not only health and security, but the middle- to long-term impact on the economy as well.

Within the aspect of health, the management of chronic conditions, pain and mental health should be taken into consideration. The long-term effects of working from home – where we exercise less, eat more preserved foods, and have prolonged exposure to television and computer screens – need to be looked at as we consider continuing with social distancing till next year.

Security, meanwhile, encompasses not only a possible spike in crime due to the sluggish economy, but also matters to do with border security, ensuring tourists are safe and healthy, and a potential increase in economic migrants, among others.

The human resource and safety departments of thousands of companies will need guidance on salary adjustments, safety precautions, and balancing between protecting employees and keeping businesses afloat. Any decision made must take into account the lowest common denominator, to ensure the vulnerable survive. No Malaysian should be left behind.

Reviving the economy and restoring consumer confidence are key, but finding a “big brother” to bail us out will be trickier than usual as other countries are grappling with their own problems. It would be a good time to rejuvenate small and medium enterprises, and tap into each other’s skills and lessons learnt from the Covid-19 episode.

With everyone on the same page – a rare occurrence – amid the crisis, it presents a unique opportunity for cooperation, not only between governments, but also industries, business clusters, companies and shopping malls. We have plenty of talent and energy, and these can be harnessed to craft solutions while the government plays the role of enabler and moderator.

Malaysia is one of the better-performing countries in handling the outbreak, and our director-general of health has been hailed as among the best doctors leading the battle.

It would be a shame not to showcase our capability in other areas, and demonstrate what we can truly and fully do. – April 22, 2020.

* Emmanuel Joseph firmly believes that Klang is the best place on Earth, and that motivated people can do far more good than any leader with motive.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.