Health Ministry: More Economic Sectors To Open Since No Spike In New Cases After Hari Raya

Malay Mail

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It’s been about two weeks since the Hari Raya celebrations in Malaysia and there has been no spike in Covid-19 new cases.

In lieu of this, the Ministry of Health is in agreement with Putrajaya’s decision to reopen more economic sectors in the country.

Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said during his daily Covid-19 briefing on 6 June that standard operating procedures (SOP) had been drawn up in preparation for the event that the Covid-19 situation in the country improved, and the Health Ministry is ready to roll them out.

If we can keep things under control after Hari Raya then it’s time to reopen other economic sectors like barbershops and so on.
Datuk Dr Noor Hisham

He added that the Ministry will allow the haircutting industry to reopen on 10 June, and that the industry would be monitored closely for any rise in cases.

In mid-March, the country implemented a movement control order (MCO) in an effort to control and contain the Covid-19 infection rate across the country. The order included enhanced and conditional versions that were implemented in accordance with the number of cases in certain areas.

Barbed wire was set up around several locales across the country under the enhanced movement control orders to stop the public from moving freely around these places. (Credit: Malay Mail)

According to Dr Noor Hisham, these efforts have been effective in flattening the infection curve, with the currently active cases mostly involving foreign migrants detained at immigration depots.

Speaking of the cramped living conditions as the reason for the infection spread among foreign migrants in Malaysia, Dr Noor Hisham urged the public to continue wearing face masks whenever outside or in crowded places as advised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as an effective measure in reducing the rate of infections, together with social distancing and good hand hygiene.

All medical personnel will still be wearing face masks and the PPE (personal protective equipment) when they are on duty.
Datuk Dr Noor Hisham

Meanwhile, he explained that the Health Ministry has asked the immigration department to send migrants who tested negative for Covid-19 back to their country. For migrants who tested positive, the ministry has isolated them to keep the spread of infection under control.

On 6 June, Malaysia added one more death to Covid-19 making the latest death toll 117 in total.

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