COVID-19: "Stay At Home" advice remains, despite drop in cases

KUALA LUMPUR,  April 26 -- The concern raised by the Ministry of Health (MOH) over the public’s lackadaisical attitude, especially of residents in the COVID-19 green zones, shows that there are still people who take lightly efforts by the government to curb the spread of the deadly pandemic.

According to Director-General of Health Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, MOH is also worried that the society takes lightly the advice by the ministry, thinking that the pandemic is almost over.

The fact is, the war against COVID-19 has not yet ended, and until the government announces the MCO has ended, the standard operating procedures (SOP) and regulations on MCO remain applicable.

As such, Malaysia's struggle to fight COVID-19 requires the cooperation of all the people to ensure that the country is 'clean' from the pandemic.

The MCO, enforced since March 18, has been extended for another two weeks for phase four from April 29 to May 12.

The increase in MCO defiers, as mentioned by Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob at a press conference yesterday, also indicates that there are still people who do not want to cooperate to help end the COVID-19 infection.

This is despite the frontliners tirelessly taking all measures, while meeting the people’s needs during the MCO.

Let not, because of this lackadaisical attitude, be a major factor for the failure of the government's efforts to combat COVID-19.

The government's move in enforcing the MCO is not an easy decision to make, but the government's decision to extend the MCO to phase four starting this April 29 for two weeks is for the safety and well-being of the people.

The third phase of MCO, which ends this Tuesday, is beginning to show success with the number of new cases having remained at two digits over the past week, apart from witnessing the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) being enforced in seven locations and efforts to detect the positive cases enhanced.-- MORE

The number of COVID-19 cases who have fully recovered and discharged from the ward yesterday was 99, which is almost double the number of new cases reported  (51), bringing to 3,762 cases of those who have recovered from the virus.

With the antigen rapid test kit from South Korea expected to arrive next week, the COVID-19 detection test capacity is to increase to 20,000 daily compared to the current 16,000.

It is clear that the government, especially the MOH, is working hard to ensure success of the fight against COVID-19 to keep Malaysia 'clean' from pandemic that has so far claimed 98 lives in the country.

With the frontliners steadfast in discharging their duty in the rain and under the scorching heat, the people have no reason not to heed Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's advice for them to stay at home until the MCO period is over.

The prime minister is not asking for much.

“I want to appeal to my brothers and sisters, please stay put where you are. Just stay at home. Spend time with your children, wives and family members. No need to go anywhere. In this way, you will avoid being infected by COVID-19 and the spread of this infection can be contained, Insya Allah,” he said in his simple and easy to understand language.

-- BERNAMA