Situation still under control, does not require restrictions on gatherings or conferences

by ASILA JALIL / pic by RAZAK GHAZALI

FIVE new Covid-19 cases were reported to the Health Ministry’s Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC), bringing the total cases in Malaysia to 55 as of noon yesterday.

Health DG Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said all five cases are linked to one cluster of the virus infection that was previously identified involving the 26th positive case also known as Patient No 26.

Out of the five cases, two cases are first-generation, while the other three are second-generation cases linked to Patient No 26.

“Therefore, as of now, positive cases for this cluster totalled to 26 cases. Investigation and contact identification for that cluster is still ongoing,” he told a press conference after meeting the Covid-19 Cluster Working Committee in Putrajaya yesterday.

Out of the 55 cases, 22 patients have fully recovered and discharged. The committee meeting was chaired by the Chief Secretary to the Government, Datuk Seri Mohd Zuki Ali and other related agencies involved.

Dr Noor Hisham said Malaysians are advised to postpone their travels to Lombardy, Veneto and Emilia-Romagna in Italy; Hokkaido in Japan; and Tehran, Qom and Gilan in Iran.

The committee had also decided to temporarily restrict, with immediate effect, the entry of all visitors who have been to those places within 14 days prior to their arrival in Malaysia. The restriction excludes Malaysian nationals, permanent residents and holders of social pass and Malaysian student pass.

He added that the situation is still under control as the county is in early containment stage which does not require restrictions on any gatherings or conferences.

“If we move to late containment, then maybe the strategy needs to be changed and we will give advice to hold any conferences,” he said.

He said organisations that are suspected to have positive cases among their members do not have to shut down their offices, as cleaning and disinfecting the areas are sufficient to douse infection.