By Xavier Kong
HEALTH director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah has called for more blood donations, as only 60% of the blood donation target has been reached due to the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO).
This is despite a 60% to 70% drop in road traffic accidents since the beginning of the MCO. However, the number of accidents reported is increasing again by 5% to 10%, likely due to the upcoming festivities.
Dr Noor Hisham again reminded Malaysians to be socially responsible and to adhere to standard operating procedures, which are to practise social distancing, maintaining hygiene, and protecting high risk groups.
A laboratory in China has also reportedly formulated a medication that can suppress Covid-19 while the world races for a vaccine. Dr Noor Hisham noted that more tests are still required before anything conclusive can be said about the matter.
He also stressed again for safe social distancing to be practised during the festive season, as well as to avoid physical contact or close contact communication. He advised Malaysians to stay at home as it would be safer, with fewer possibilities of transmission compared to visiting friends and family or going back to their hometowns.
This is especially true for those returning to green zones from red zones, with Dr Noor Hisham reiterating his advice for these Malaysians to not head back to hometowns over the festive period for fear of infecting their loved ones in green zones.
A total of 60 new recoveries were reported today, bringing the total of discharged patients to 5,706. 31 new cases were also confirmed, of which 10 were imported cases, and another 10 involved foreign nationals.
This brings the total number of confirmed cases to 7,009, with 1,189 active transmission cases. 11 patients are receiving treatment in intensive care units, and seven of these require ventilator support. No new deaths were reported, leaving the death toll at 114. – May 20, 2020
