Health DG: Spike in Covid-19 cases due to active case detection

CORONAVIRUS | The spike in Covid-19 cases in the country is due to active case detection in areas which are under an enhanced movement control order (MCO), said the health director-general Noor Hisham Abdullah.

"The spike is expected because of the active case detention.

"The slight increase from 208 (cases yesterday to 217 today) is because of the enhanced movement control order where we screen the whole community in affected villages.

"For example in Sungai Lui, we managed to pick up 41 tahfiz students (who were tested positive)," he told reporters at a media conference in Putrajaya today.

Today, the health ministry announced that there are 217 new cases, bringing the total number of cases to 3,333. The highest increase recorded to date was 235 cases on March 6.

For the record, three areas are under an enhanced MCO. They are the Menara City One condominium in Kuala Lumpur, seven villages in Hulu Langat as well as two villages in Simpang Renggam, Johor.

Noor Hisham (above) also hinted that there will be no mass gatherings in the country for the next six months until a year.

"Although the MCO will be lifted in two weeks, but our practices have changed, they are not a norm anymore.

"Our practices (for now), are that we don't shake hands, we wash our hands frequently, observe social distancing and we don't encourage mass gatherings at all," he said.

On wearing of face masks, Noor Hisham reiterated that only those who exhibit symptoms and frontliners who deal with the public are advised to wear a mask.

"(For the rest), as long as you practice social distancing of up to one meter, that's more than adequate. But if you want to take extra precautions it's up to you (to wear a mask)," he said. - Mkini