Covid-19: Malaysia transparent in disseminating info - Health expert

CORONAVIRUS | Malaysia has been very transparent on the Covid-19 infection in terms of disseminating information to the public.

Universiti Malaya Health Systems and Policies senior fellow, Dr Khor Swee Kheng, said the Health Ministry (MOH) has been highly committed in dealing with the infection and its responses’ were fast.

“MOH have had frequent communications with the public, through social and traditional media.

“They also have had it in multiple languages. What is equally important, they are also transparent in the content of communications, in terms of comprehensiveness of what they (authorities) have discussed,” he told reporters after presenting insights at "The Science, Politics, and Geopolitics of Coronavirus" forum organised by Institute of Strategic and International Studies (Isis) in Kuala Lumpur today.

MOH has been very consistent in delivering the latest information regarding Covid-19, be it through a press conference or media statements and even through its social media platforms.

The number of Covid-19 cases reported in Malaysia to date remains at 22, and eight patients have been discharged.

Khor who is currently attached to the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, however, said Malaysia needs to be very specific in managing fatigue in the healthcare system.

“MOH needs to be more mindful that the people, doctors, nurses, and the frontliners need to be taken care of so that they do not feel burnt out, depressed or emotionally strained.

“We also do not want them to face road accidents when they leave work, for example. So the management of fatigue of the health system in humans is very important,” he said.

On the repatriation of Malaysians from Wuhan, China, the epicentre of the virus, on Feb 14, Khor said the government’s effort needs to be praised and is a testament that it cares for its citizens.

“The positive side is that the government has fulfilled its duty for its citizens, the negative side is that the move could possibly introduce infections in Malaysia but the risk is mitigated by placing them in quarantine for 14 days,” he said.

It was reported that all those quarantined at the Surveillance Centre at Higher Education Leadership Academy (Akept) in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, have been doing well and if they are tested negative in the final screening, they will be allowed home at the conclusion of the quarantine tomorrow (Feb 18).

- Bernama