Embrace new norm this Aidilfitri — Health DG
KUCHING: Malaysians have been called on to embrace the new norm this Hari Raya Aidilfitri to help Malaysia break the chain of Covid-19 infection.
Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, who made the call, said all Malaysians must practise social distancing of at least one metre, if not two metres, to prevent infection.
“Avoid touching or close contact greetings, and comply with the SOP (standard operating procedures) by washing hands and using hand sanitiser to kill the virus. For those who cannot celebrate Aidilfitri with your family members, we want to tell them that this is a sacrifice that they can do for the country.
“Together we can break the chain of Covid-19 infection. We have to take care of our family, our community and our country. Not celebrating Aidilfitri is to protect our family members and loved ones and the society as a whole,” he said during the Covid19 daily update press conference in Putrajaya yesterday.
Dr Noor Hisham advised Malaysians to celebrate the festival closed door style amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
He explained that when a person is infected with Covid-19, the individual might not develop symptoms until one week.
Dr Noor Hisham added that 80 per cent of those infected with Covid-19 would develop symptoms like fever and cough only within the first week.
For individuals exposed to risk of infection but with negative test results, he said they might have been tested at the early stage and developed no symptoms yet.
“If their immune system is strong, they can fight the virus and show no sign of symptoms like cough or fever. When children, the elderly, or those with NCD (non-communicable disease) are infected, they develop symptoms more quickly,” he said.
Dr Noor Hisham pointed out the incubation period for Covid19 is 14 days, hence Malaysians must practise social distancing of at least one metre.
“It will be better if they can keep a two metres distance so that the virus won’t spread.”
He advised all to wash their hands properly and not just wet them.
“Use water and soap to wash your hands to kill the virus. If you develop symptoms, use a mask to minimise the risk of transmission,” he said.
Avoid touching or close contact greetings, and comply with the SOP (standard operating procedures) by washing hands and using hand sanitiser to kill the virus.
— Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah