Labuan residents urged to help maintain Covid-19 green zone

LABUAN: By being declared as Covid-19 green zone is not an indication to the local residents to take a lackadaisical approach in the social distancing, said Ministry of Health Public Health Medicine Specialist Dr Ismuni Bohari.

He said the people at large must accept the need to change with the new normal in their life.

“The do’s and don’ts in the rules of the social distancing, is a crucial public health intervention that can help stop transmission of Covid-19.

“But if the people are taking the lackadaisical approach in physical distancing, then the people must be prepared to endure the Covid-19 pandemic for quite a long period,” he told Bernama in an exclusive interview yesterday.

Dr Ismuni who is also Labuan Health Department director said the Covid-19 green zone is actually a great challenge to healthcare personnel to retain the status.

“There is a need for a high level of commitment from us in the healthcare sector, all government agencies and private sectors and especially the local folks themselves,” he said.

The Federal Territory of Labuan became the fifth Covid-19 green zone in the country after recording zero or no active case after 14 days on April 2.

Besides Labuan, Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan and Perak are also listed as green zones, based on infographics from the Health Ministry (MOH)’s Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC) on April 2 and to date, 91 areas are now green zones.

Dr Ismuni said with the Labuan Airport and Labuan Ferry Terminal open following the easing of the Movement Control Order (MCO), the local residents are still vulnerable to the virus and the possibility of having import cases is still high while preventive measures get even more difficult.

“Therefore, I appeal to the local folks not to take things lightly, as Malaysians have not won the war yet,” he reminded. – Bernama