CHILDREN make up 317 of the 6,872 Covid-19 cases in Malaysia, Health Director-General Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said.

Of that total, 112 were below the age of 4, and 22 others involved babies less than a year old. Seventy-seven involved children aged 5 to 8, and 127 aged 10 to 12.

No child in Malaysia has died of Covid-19.

“Children are the second most vulnerable group after the elderly,” Dr Noor Hisham said at the daily press briefing on Covid-19 today.

“These children got infected from their parents and that is why we urge parents to straight away clean themselves upon returning home. 

“Do not touch your children unless you have cleaned up yourselves.”

The number of children below the age of 12 infected with the coronavirus is less than 5% of the total number of Covid-19 cases.

Selangor has the highest number of children with infected with Covid-19 at 77, followed by Negri Sembilan with 48, Johor, 46; Kuala Lumpur 28 and Sabah 26 cases.

“I hope parents will prioritise the safety of their children before anything else. Frequently wash your hands and wear masks all the time.”

With Hari Raya to be celebrated in about a week, Dr Noor Hisham said people should limit their physical contact with other children.

“They can get infected easily. Don’t touch their faces, practise social distancing and do not be in a crowded space.

“We are worried the virus can spread during Hari Raya gatherings. It is important to keep ourselves clean all the time and abide by the health standard operating procedures that the ministry has come up with,” he said.

The government is allowing Hari Raya gatherings limited to no more than 20 people and on the first day only.

Senior minister and National Security Council spokesman Ismail Sabri Yaakob has said that hosts are to ensure there is social distancing in their homes, according to the size of their house, even if this means inviting small groups of people at different times up to at the maximum of 20 people. – May 16, 2020.