Safety first: More parents are becoming more wary about bringing their children to public places as a precaution against Covid-19. — SAMUEL ONG/The Star
PETALING JAYA: Gym manager Mohd Nazmi Mohd Zuki and senior fitness coach Muhammad Hafizuddin Abu Bakar are both keeping their infant sons at home and away from crowded areas.
Despite their fitness regimes, both men fear that their children might be exposed to Covid-19 as the number of cases continues to rise.
They are among many parents who are taking various precautions to keep their children safe.
Many have minimised outings or take their children only to less frequented public areas, and they restrict their kids from mixing with others.
Mohd Nazmi, 30, said he avoided bringing his one-year-old son to crowded areas.
“Previously, my wife and I would take him for trips to malls and even recreational parks weekly, but we have chosen to stay away from these areas lately.
“Although we still go to malls, we opt for ones with smaller crowds and choose to go for strolls in the neighbourhood instead,” he said.
Mohd Nazmi, who contracted Covid-19 previously, said his experience had prompted him to be more cautious.
For Muhammad Hafizuddin, 32, keeping his son away from crowded and confined areas was the norm even before the current spike.
“Although my wife and I are vaccinated, our two-year-old is not, so we prefer options where we can minimise any risk of exposing him to the virus.
“We only take him to less crowded areas and outdoor playgrounds,” he said.
Teacher Siti Amirah Azmi, 26, said she did not allow other people to hold her three-month-old son.
“If they insist on doing so, they must wash and sanitise their hands first.
“My husband and I also take a shower as soon as we get home before tending to our son,” she added.
Apart from Covid-19, she is also concerned about her child coming down with influenza or hand, foot and mouth disease.
Yesterday, the Health Ministry’s CovidNow portal reported 5,685 daily Covid-19 cases, an all-time high since late April. This brings the total number of cases in the country to 4,635,648 infections since the pandemic began.
Eight Covid-19 deaths were also reported yesterday, including five classified as brought-in-dead, bringing the death toll to 35,878.
