Two-week MCO extension allows frontliners to fight Covid-19, says Health DG

By Xavier Kong

HEALTH director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the two-week extension of the Movement Control Order (MCO) to May 12 allows frontliners to continue fighting Covid-19.

He also called again for Malaysians to adhere to the MCO, to stay at home, maintain hygiene, and practise safe social distancing. Employers are also asked to adhere to the guidelines, for those reopening their businesses during phase four of the MCO, such as avoiding gatherings in an enclosed space, as well as to maintain safe social distances.

As of 12pm on April 24, 121 new recoveries were reported, bringing it to a total of 3,663 recoveries. There were 88 new cases reported, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 5,691. Of the 88 cases, 13 were imported cases, with the remaining 75 local transmissions.

He said 1,932 cases remain active transmission cases, with 41 of those being treated in intensive care units, of which 18 require ventilator support. A further death due to Covid-19 was also reported, bringing the death toll to 96.

Dr Noor Hisham advised F&B operators and food delivery riders to maintain a high level of hygiene and safe social distancing. He shared that, of the 516 cases of food poisoning involving 16,583 patients in 2019, 34 cases involving 1,032 people happened during the month of Ramadan. He reiterated the importance of proper food handling to ensure food is safe for consumption.

Dr Noor Hisham also shared that April 3 was actually the peak for Malaysia, with 217 new cases. A separate peak on April 14 was expected, but this was not seen, suggesting that phases one and two of the MCO had flattened the peak.

“We realise now we are in the recovery phase, not at the peak phase. We hope that we can continue our momentum and make sure we can control the cases and reduce the cases. Nonetheless, it is not impossible to have an exponential surge if we let our guard down,” he said.

With regard to the team of experts from China, Dr Noor Hisham shared that the discussions are going well, with Malaysia drawing on the experience of China, which saw the outbreak first. He also shared that a vaccine is currently in phase two clinical trials in China, with results expected in November or December.

Should this be successful, the vaccine will proceed to phase three clinical trials, where “Malaysia has volunteered to perform the clinical research.”

“There is a lot of discussion with regard to the usage of medicine, what has been discussed, what has been used, and whether there has been any impact or not, as well as any side effects.

“But, more importantly, I think that the policy and action plan that we have is almost in accordance with what they have done. We are learning from them, because they are ahead of us by two months,” added Dr Noor Hisham.

Regarding the six criteria for lifting the MCO, Noor Hisham shared that Malaysia already meets three of the criteria, which were set by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The first, concerning the infectivity of Covid-19, shows that Malaysia is controlling it through the enactment of the MCO and Enhanced MCOs.

The second, regarding border control, sees Malaysia already implementing screening and quarantines for returning Malaysians, which prevents the spread of the virus from imported cases.

The third is that Malaysia’s healthcare system is ready in tackling the spread of Covid-19 in Malaysia, with sufficient capacity, treatment capability, and testing.

He shared that Malaysia is already making efforts towards the other three criteria, which include adapting Malaysians to the new normal, identifying high-risk groups, and working with the community to prevent the spread of Covid-19. – April 24, 2020