MOH to formulate measures to keep green zones safe
Published on: Monday, November 23, 2020
By: FMT
Photo: AFP
PUTRAJAYA: The health ministry will be coming up with a set of guidelines aimed at protecting states and districts that are green zones, health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said today.
Noor Hisham said the health ministry had initially targeted its Covid-19 prevention measures towards vulnerable groups such as the elderly and children, then moving on to communities such as old folks’ homes.
ADVERTISEMENT “Now we’re looking at how we can protect states (and districts), in terms of preventing the virus from being brought in from red zones. In Sarawak, they’ve set up roadblocks to stop people in Kuching from going to other districts. So this is important for us to look into how we can maintain the green zones.
“We will come up with guidelines, dos and don’ts, to prevent infection in green zones, whether the zones are states or districts,” he said at his daily media briefing today.
Noor Hisham reminded Malaysians that they could be asymptomatic carriers of the virus, and should therefore avoid returning to their hometowns as much as possible in order not to infect their loved ones.
If they did return home, they should always follow the new norms and avoid close contact with the elderly.
ADVERTISEMENT He said 64% of Covid-19 deaths in Malaysia comprised those aged 60 and above, while 87% of them had at least one underlying health condition.
“We have been looking at how to protect this vulnerable group from the start. When they have comorbidities, their antibodies aren’t as strong as those in the younger age group. And the comorbidities itself could lead to complications after getting infected.”
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He also said the health ministry has been conducting adequate testing daily, adding that RTK Antigen (rapid test kit) is now being used more frequently to quickly detect cases.
He added that the ministry and police have a mechanism in place to trace people who flee lockdown areas. He advised them to stay put, so that they may be tested.
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“For example, those workers who will be screened, the illegal migrant workers might try to run because they might fear that, after getting screened, they will be detained.
“But more importantly, we will work with the police and make sure we identify them, then we will trace them. Collaboration with the police is important in tracing individuals.”