KUALA LUMPUR (June 7): It is possible for the chain of infection of Covid-19 in Malaysia to be broken, but everyone has to follow the health and safety standard operating procedures (SOPs). 

During the Ministry of Health (MoH)’s daily briefing on Covid-19 developments, MoH director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah cited Malaysia’s success at combating the spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), which currently do not have vaccines available.

“There is a chance that without the use of a vaccine, so long as we all follow the SOPs and public health regulations, we can halt the spread of infection of Covid-19 without a vaccine.

"It is not impossible to succeed in stopping [Covid-19] without a vaccine, but of course having a vaccine would be better,” he said.

The health director-general underscored the need for the public to maintain social distancing as medical studies had shown that social distancing and keeping at least one metre apart would lower infection rates.

At the same time, people still need to wear face masks when they go out and maintain high levels of hygiene.

The ministry advised people to avoid crowded places, confined spaces and physically close conversations.

Additionally, people should wash their hands with soap and water, wear face masks in public or if they are infected, and heed health warnings from the ministry.

As such, people need to follow the SOPs set under different phases of the MCO, protect high-risk groups such as infants, children, the elderly and the differently-abled, seek health checks if they are unwell and infected, and maintain social distancing of at least one metre from another person.

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