Health DG: Don't let up on SOPs, don't take Covid-19 situation for granted

PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry has warned Malaysians not to take the improving situation of Covid-19 in the country lightly, citing other countries as examples of places where the outbreak has made a return.

Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the need for social compliance and discipline has to be stressed repeatedly, in order to prevent more new infections in the country.

“We have seen in other countries that Covid-19 made a comeback when they eased restrictions and people did not comply to the standard operating procedures (SOP).

“So, it is important to keep complying with the SOPs set by the ministry.

“We need to learn a lesson from the situation in the state of Victoria, Australia.

“They announced the shutdown of 55 entry points at the state border with New South Wales, following an escalation of Covid-19 cases.

“This is due to the spread of the virus in several major cities, and one of the factors contributing to this because of the infringement of the SOP at quarantine centres by individuals returning from overseas, ” he said at the ministry’s Covid-19 press conference here.

Dr Noor Hisham said that out of 5,804 individuals placed under the Home Surveillance Order (HSO), 414 individuals have yet to undergo the day-13 Covid-19 testing, which is a requirement.

“The ministry hopes that all travellers returning to Malaysia will continue to cooperate with the MOH and comply with the terms and requirements under the HSO, ” he said.

Malaysia’s active cases have gone down to 71 and daily increases have largely been in single digits so far.

“This is a good sign, because it means the infectivity of Covid-19 in the community is getting less," said Noor Hisham.