Curfew at home, no visiting, tell kids don’t come back - Health DG’s Raya advice

CORONAVIRUS | Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah has advised the public against accepting visitors or making house-to-house visits during Hari Raya Aidilfitri to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

He has also proposed that children refrain from returning to their parents’ home for the festivities if social distancing proves to be a challenge.

“We, at the ministry, would like to advocate or even advise the public to have a homely, closed-door Hari Raya. This is unprecedented but at least we can protect our family [...]

“Curfew at your own own home and perhaps stop visiting from one home to another,” he said during his daily Covid-19 briefing today.

He cautioned that visits from family members living in areas with a high number of cases could expose the elderly to the virus.

Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob previously announced that visits among family members were allowed on the first day of Hari Raya, but this was limited to 20 people for the whole day.

Today, Noor Hisham advised tailoring that advice to the size of one's own home.

“Let’s forget about the 20 (number) because 20 is relative. It is not a one-size-fits-all,” he said.

“If your home is actually very limited in space, then perhaps advise your children not to come home, for example. You can still communicate with your children using video conferencing,” he added.

Noor Hisham reiterated the need for the public to avoid the "3Cs" - crowded places, confined spaces and close conversations. He also urged adherence to the "3Ws" - washing hands, wearing a facemask and obeying warnings from the ministry.

As of noon today, the top official said that 651 individuals from Islamic schools or tahfiz had tested positive for Covid-19.

Of the total, 555 (85.3 percent) did not exhibit any symptoms while 96 (14.7 percent) showed symptoms.

This marks an increase of 16 cases from yesterday. All new cases are asymptomatic.

A total of 13,288 people from 370 schools - including students, teachers and staff - have been tested.

Noor Hisham said that the ministry was presently working with the Department for Islamic Development (Jakim) to encourage those from other tahfiz to come forward for screening and testing.

“We are also actively going to these religious schools and doing the testing. It is not to stigmatise (them) but to protect them and make sure they do not transmit the infection to others,” he said.

The ministry has been targeting its testing efforts on tahfiz as well as on other groups and localities.

Ahead of the approaching Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Noor Hisham has advised tahfiz students who have returned home to contact their nearest health office, Health Ministry clinic or hospital.

For those who have yet to travel home, he has advised them to remain in their schools. He has also urged tahfiz coordinators to share student information with the ministry.

Yesterday, he speculated that students in more than 1,000 privately-run tahfiz had yet to come forward for screening and testing. - Mkini