Bagan Serai: Parents should not bring their children to Ramadan bazaars to protect them from being exposed to Covid-19, said deputy health minister Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali.
He said although Malaysia had begun transitioning to the endemic phase, it was not advisable for children, especially those who were unvaccinated, to go to crowded places.
“We saw many people visiting bazaars in Bagan Serai on the first day of Ramadan with their children, especially the young ones.
“I advise parents not to bring their children to such places as we do not want to observe the fasting month in a sombre mood in hospitals,” he told reporters after distributing dates at the Bagan Serai Ramadan bazaar yesterday.
Noor Azmi said that according to the latest data, only 38% of the child population in Malaysia had been vaccinated against Covid-19, while 91.7% of adolescents had completed their vaccination.
“The vaccination rate among children is still low. We hope parents will bring their children to get vaccinated as soon as possible,” he said.
He also said the decision to shorten the quarantine period for infected healthcare workers was made based on scientific data and advice by experts to overcome the manpower shortage in hospitals.
“Quarantine has been shortened to prevent disruption of hospital operations.
“Healthcare workers who have been fully vaccinated, have received a booster dose and are asymptomatic will undergo assessment to ensure that they are safe to return to work,” he said.
Recently, the Malaysian Health Coalition urged the ministry to review its decision to shorten the quarantine period for health workers.
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