DG: Stay vigilant and don’t let your guard down

PUTRAJAYA: “If you think that the situation has resumed to normal, that is a big mistake. The Covid-19 infections will continue to go up,” warns Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

With the number of Covid-19 cases in the country showing a spike, he urged Malaysians to stay vigilant and to not let their guard down in managing the pandemic.

Folks should lessen their time outside their homes if they do not have important things to do.

“If you have important work outside, adhere to the SOP (standard operating procedure) at all times,” he said at the ministry’s Covid-19 press conference.

Dr Noor Hisham said the past nine months of dealing with Covid19 may 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 the SOP at all times.

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

“If you take things easily, a rise in infection will happen,” said Dr Noor Hisham.

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

Dr Noor Hisham expressed belief that the country will be able to weather the current storm, as it has 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.

Meanwhile, Dr Noor Hisham denied accusations of a late health response in Sabah, saying that earlier preparations were taken to help curb the spread of Covid-19 prior to the state polls.

He said public health interventions were done much earlier, such as closure of markets and cooperation from the armed forces to strengthen restrictions at the borders to stop illegal foreign workers coming into the country.

“The reason we did not announce it is ... if we announce a temporary movement control order, we are forcing people to stay at home.

“So, indirectly, we do not want to be seen stopping people from participating in the state election,” he said.

He was asked to comment why official restrictions were only announced on Sept 27, a day after the Sabah polls, despite a rise in cases in the state.