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Malaysia among the best in handling the Covid-19 situation

Apr 16, 2020

Covid-19 patients here are only allowed to leave hospital, after they’ve tested negative for the virus twice in a row. 

The Health Director-General says this is different from some other western countries, where patients are allowed to self-quarantine at home once they stop showing symptoms. 

Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah says it is this difference that has helped Malaysia effectively contain the outbreak so far:

“If you look at UK, Italy, positive patients who are asymptomatic and have mild symptoms are advised to stay at home. Here in Malaysia, positive patients, we make sure that they’re isolated in the hospital so that we can monitor them closely. And because of this close monitoring as well as the monitoring of the treatment, we see that our outcome is much better.”

Meanwhile, Dr Noor Hisham is worried that any good work we’ve achieved so far, will be undone by those who still refuse to abide by the MCO. 

He lamented the fact that there are still many Malaysians out on the roads and getting arrested for leaving home without a good reason, adding that its very crucial that we adhere to the third phase of the MCO.

He's not ruling out the possibility that we could have three different strains of Covid-19 in the country. 

However, he was quick to point out that it is still too early to confirm this, as there are not enough reports or data for our authorities to research. 

This, following reports that there could be different strains of the coronavirus, in China, the rest of Asia and countries in the west.

Separately, the Health Ministry is now turning its attention to over eight thousand tahfiz students nationwide, in the fight against the coronavirus. 

Dr Noor Hisham says the focus is shifting from the Sri Petaling religious gathering, to tahfiz students in madrasah schools, after 217 of these students tested positive so far. 

Meanwhile, a Chinese TV station has named Dr Noor Hisham among the top three doctors in the world for their handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The trio – which also includes US infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci and New Zealand’s Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield – were given credit for their calm, clear and trustable approach.