Docs: Next few weeks crucial

PETALING JAYA: The next three weeks will be crucial for controlling the Covid-19 outbreak in Malaysia, doctors warned.

The spike in Covid-19 cases and an increasing number of clusters in Sabah and other states over the past few weeks is of great concern, said Malaysian Medical Association president Prof Datuk Dr M. Subramaniam.

“These next two to three weeks will be important in controlling the spread of Covid-19 as a large number of travellers from Sabah will be returning to other states after the Sabah election on Sept 26.

“We laud the decision by the Health Ministry to test and impose a quarantine on all Sabah returnees as a preventive measure,” he said.

In cases where physical distancing and isolation is not possible in a home setting, Dr Subramaniam called on the government to look into placing the returnees at quarantine centres.

“In fact, the quarantine centres would be the safer option,” he said in a press statement.

He also noted that employers of these returnees should ensure they report to work only if they are certified medically fit and declared free of Covid-19.

“Employees must also be upfront with their employers on their health status with proper documentation,” he added.

Dr Subramaniam also reminded all healthcare workers and general practitioners to ensure they adhered to all infectious disease control protocols in their practice and not let their guard down.

“All healthcare workers must be consistent in ensuring they observe preventive measures when seeing patients and even when

off duty, as patients and loved ones of healthcare workers can be at risk of infection,” he added.