Health DG: Take things easy and there'll be a rise in infection

PUTRAJAYA: With the number of Covid-19 cases in the country showing a spike, Malaysians must stay vigilant and to not let their guard down in managing the pandemic, says Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

He said the people should lessen time spent outside their homes if they did not have important things to do.

“Our advice is for the public to stay at home if you have no pressing matters to attend to outside.

"If you have important work outside, adhere to the SOPs (standard operating procedures) at all times.

“If you think that the situation has resumed to normal nowadays, that is a big mistake. The infection of Covid-19 will continue to go up, ” he said at the ministry’s Covid-19 press conference on Thursday (Oct 1).

Dr Noor Hisham said the past nine months of dealing with Covid-19 might have caused people to feel fatigued with the new norms.

“In the last few months, perhaps many members of the public, as well as healthcare workers, feel fatigued for having to comply with SOPs at all times.

“But be reminded, the virus does not experience any fatigue.

"If you take things easily, a rise in infection will happen, ” he said.

He said he believed that the country would be able to weather the current storm, as it had the experience of dealing with "large waves" in the past.

“It is up to us to flatten the curve. We have done it before, and we can do it again, ” he said.

Malaysia recorded 260 new Covid-19 cases yesterday, which is the second highest increase in a single day since the outbreak began in January.

The highest hike is 277, which was recorded on June 4 following an outbreak among inmates at the Bukit Jalil Immigration detention centre.