Health D-G says country not yet ready for exit strategy

Ravin Palanisamy Ravin Palanisamy Updated 3 years ago · Published on 6 Jun 2020 6:43PM · 2 Comments

Social-distancing markers seen on a train in Kuala Lumpur. Covid-19 movement restrictions remain in effect, though most economic sectors have been allowed to reopen. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, June 6, 2020.

PUTRAJAYA will continue to monitor and implement measures to curb Covid-19 when more business sectors reopen next week, said Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

The director-general of health said the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342) will remain in force.

“We’re not yet ready for the exit strategy. We’re still applying Act 342, and it will be used for monitoring and oversight as we reopen more sectors.

“We are now in the recovery phase. In this phase, it is important to use this act to conduct monitoring.

“We have delegated Act 342 to police, the military, Rela and various agencies to help the Health Ministry enforce it,” he told a daily Covid-19 briefing in Putrajaya today.

Should there be an increase in cases, he said, the semi-enhanced movement-control order (SEMCO) or a lockdown will be imposed on the affected area.

“In the event of an outbreak or an increase in cases in a locality or among target groups, we will execute the EMCO (lockdown) or SEMCO.

“We will fence up the area and conduct tests on all residents, both foreigners and locals.

“If there are positive cases, we will isolate them, and their close contacts will be quarantined.”

Border controls are still in force, and Malaysians are discouraged from travelling abroad, he added. – June 6, 2020.

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Comments

  • You dont speak like this. Covid 19 is here to stay. We have to learn to live with it. We connot stay like this for ever....Sorry...we can not stay like this for ever...

    Posted 3 years ago by Thomas Samuel · Reply

  • A smart exit strategy is preferred to any emotion-driven decision. Think short term and risk the lives of thousands. It is easy to say that we have to learn to live with it but the consequences of public carelessness and apathy will be tragic. As it is a large number of people are not social distancing or even wearing masks! Once places of worship are opened up clusters will sprout far and wide. Then we wont be able to live with it but die of it!

    Posted 3 years ago by Simple Sulaiman · Reply