PETALING JAYA: Malaysia is now in the “late containment” stage of the Covid-19 pandemic and powers under the Infectious Diseases Act will be used to compel suspected cases to undergo observation, the government said today.
Separately, the Malaysian Medical Association advised members of the public to first phone or email the health ministry’s crisis centre before undergoing screening tests for the Covid-19 coronavirus.
The MMA said this was necessary to find out whether the individual may be a Person Under Investigation (PUI) for the disease.
This would reduce overcrowding in government hospitals and serve as a preventive measure in protecting others from being infected, the MMA said.
The health ministry’s Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre has hotlines at 03-8881 0200, 03-8881 0600 and 03-8881 0700. The email address is: [email protected]
Earlier today, in a live online press conference from Johor Bahru, Health Minister Adham Baba said a record high of 190 new Covid-19 cases had been reported up to noon today.
There were a total of 428 cases “and we need to take drastic action”, he said. The phases are listed according to the increasing severity of a particular disease outbreak.
Powers under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Disease Act 1988 would be used to issue observation orders, under which people suspected of being infected may be ordered to undergo observation.
“Everyone is urged to cooperate with the health ministry to curb the spread of the virus,” he said.