www.Teo-Education.Com

KOTA KINABALU: Key Covid-19 “hotspots” in Sabah’s major towns are being sealed off in efforts to minimise movement amid a growing number of cases in these areas.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal (pic) said that several moves, including a near curtailment on the movement of people in certain areas of Kota Kinabalu, Tawau and Lahad Datu, were being implemented in light of an increasing number of viral infection cases.

Other measures include ordering certain plantations and factories in Lahad Datu and Kalabakan to shut following the detection of cases in the area as well as stopping barter trading between east coast Sabah and neighbouring Philippines and Indonesia.

He said the movement of people from the city’s Pulau Gaya, a ten-minute boat ride from here, where they have detected cases of people infected by the virus have also been curtailed.

“Only those working with essential services are allowed to come to the mainland. Medical teams are also carrying out checks for the people there, ” he told reporters after chairing the state National Security Council meeting on Covid-19 here Tuesday (March 24).

At least five plantations in the Lahad Datu area in the east coast have been ordered to stop operations to pluck oil palm fruit as “we are trying to stop contact of people in view of certain cases detected there”.

As of noon Tuesday, Shafie said there were 171 positive cases of Covid-19 in the state with most of the cases in Lahad Datu, Kota Kinabalu and Tawau as compared to the other districts.

He said most of the cases were connected to the Seri Petaling gathering in Kuala Lumpur while the others involved a few from a group that had returned from Thailand.

On Sabahans who returned from the cancelled tabligh gathering in Sulawesi, he said that so far 17 have come back and another nine were expected back by Wednesday (March 25).

“Those who came back are being quarantined in Tawau and we will allow those still coming back to use the proper legal sea route into Tawau.

“We don’t want them to use ‘jalan tikus’ (backdoor entries) as they need to be kept under observation.

“The Indonesian side does not have quarantine facilities so we will do it in Tawau, ” he said, adding that those who went to Sulawesi were mainly from the Tawau, Beaufort and Papar districts of the state.

“This quarantine is for the greater good of the people. We are not taking any punitive action but want to ensure that people who could be exposed to the virus are screened, ” Shafie added.

Read more @ https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/03/24/sabah-covid-19-039hotspots039-sealed-off-to-reduce-movement-exposure

KUALA LUMPUR: Though there is an improvement in compliance to stay home during the Movement Control Order (MCO), few Malaysians are practicing social distancing when out to purchase essential items.

Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the percentage of Malaysians staying at home rose to 92 per cent today – but he despairs over what he sees at supermarkets and grocery stores.

“I went to a supermarket yesterday, and those who were out did not practice the 1m social distancing order. They are still close to each counter at the counter,” he said at a press conference after a special meeting with ministers on the implementation of the MCO, today.

Ismail Sabri said as such, starting today, local governments such as the City Hall, have been tasked with making sure Malaysians practice social distancing.

Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the percentage of Malaysians staying at home rose to 92 per cent today – but he despairs over what he sees at supermarkets and grocery stores. – BERNAMA pic

For example, he said, members of the public may take turns to enter wet markets or supermarkets.

Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri, who is also Defence Minister, revealed that 1,903 roadblocks were set up nationwide yesterday by the police, army, Rela and the Civil Defence Department.

He said a total 120,615 vehicles were inspected during the operations.

“This shows that there are still people who disobey the MCO and we hope all will stay home and only go out for essentials, such as food and medicine,” he said.

He added that a ban on interstate travel is in place, but those who need to visit other states for emergency reasons can still ask for permission from the police.

“(Travelling for) events such as funerals of close family members or the need for medical treatment in other states are still permissible as long as you inform the police,” he added.

By Teoh Pei Ying.

Read more @ https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2020/03/577362/mco-more-msians-staying-home-few-practice-social-distancing-public

LETTERS:WITH the sharp rise in the number of cases internationally, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has elevated Covid-19 to a pandemic level.

A pandemic is a disease that is spreading in multiple countries at the same time.

Foremost in the battle against this pandemic is the public understanding of the facts to dispel rumours and fake news.

The concept of cure is to allow personnel and facilities to cope with cases at a manageable level. If the intake of patients is higher than the rate of recovery, we will face acute problems.

That is why the public could, and should, play an important role at least to slow down the spread.

Measures include controlled entry into the country, minimising public events and minimising contact through social distancing.

These measures will undoubtedly result in lower economic activities affecting economic growth. It is for this reason that the additional stimuli is needed to help the people to pull through these hard times.

The RM20 billion stimulus package announced earlier needs to be reviewed and revised upward to help those who are hardest hit by Covid-19.

The government needs to help not only the tourism industry but also many other sectors.

The Covid-19 challenge has to be addressed by urgent and aggressive action with more intensive education and awareness programmes to mobilise the community to combat the pandemic.

The biggest challenge is how to deal with large cluster or community transmission.

This requires the fullest co-operation of the community in not participating in huge gatherings such as conferences or religious congregations to prevent the virus taking a hold.

If the situation worsens schools, colleges and universities may have to be closed.

I am confident our country has the necessary experience and expertise to manage this crisis.

The front-line personnel are working double time to support recovery efforts. They are really our unsung heroes.

The government does not have the monopoly of public health and safety. It is vested in all of us, the community.

What is needed now is the cooperation of all levels of society so that together we can recover from this crisis.

by TAN SRI LEE LAM THYE.

Read more @ https://www.nst.com.my/opinion/letters/2020/03/574667/prevention-disease-all-our-hands

The Health Ministry is urging parents to practice ‘herd immunity’ and to have their children vaccinated against infectious diseases such as polio. File Photo

SANDAKAN: A three-year-old non-Malaysian boy in Sandakan was confirmed to be infected with the poliovirus, making him the fourth person to be diagnosed with the disease in Sabah since last year.

According to a statement by Director General of Health Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, the boy, who has never received the polio vaccination, was detected to have weak legs on Jan 18, 2020.

His sample was sent to the Reference Laboratory at the World Health Organisation in Australia, which came back positive with poliovirus on March 5.

The boy is reported to be in stable condition and is now being treated at a hospital here.

Four polio cases have been recorded in Sabah since last year involving two children in Sandakan aged three and eight (non-Malaysian), an 11-year-old boy in Kinabatangan (non-Malaysian) and a three-month-old infant in Tuaran (Malaysian).

BY REBECCA CHONG.

Read more @ https://www.theborneopost.com/2020/03/10/fourth-child-infected-with-poliovirus-in-sabah/

LETTERS: Cleanliness is something that cannot be compromised at restaurants, food courts and other eateries. It is not something just for campaign slogans or publicity but must be seen to be practised.

Everyone knows the importance of cleanliness. However, the fact remains that dirty and unhygienic restaurants, food courts and eateries still exist. Some errant ones have even gone viral on social media.

In fact, social media today plays an effective role in exposing eateries that do not practise cleanliness and hygiene.

On several occasions, I have witnessed dirty kitchens and toilets which make you lose your appetite.

Does this reflect well on restaurant operators who pay scant regard to licensing rules and regulations?

Are they aware that they are infringing sanitation and safety regulations under the Food Act 1983?

Many of those preparing and serving food do not wear hairnets, gloves and aprons.

No matter whether in the urban or the rural areas, many restaurants and eateries have cleanliness issues which need to be addressed.

According to media reports, rats and cockroaches were found when inspections were carried out.

Both customers and food operators must know the importance of hygiene and cleanliness.

Food and restaurant operators should be more responsible in conducting their businesses and be more wary of the harmful consequences of not practising cleanliness and hygiene.

This is all the more critical in the wake of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

Is it too difficult to ensure that premises are hygienic?

I don’t think it’s harder than maintaining the trust of the customers.

Every now and then, we hear and read about eateries and restaurants being ordered to cease operations due to cleanliness issues.

Customers who come across dirty eateries must not hesitate to come forward and lodge complaints.

With many new contagious diseases and viruses emerging, everyone must acknowledge the importance of hygiene.

Health authorities too need to be more proactive. They need to conduct regular and surprise checks at all food premises.

As customers, we need to make wise choices when patronising restaurants and eateries.

Cleanliness should always be practised. If we take this matter lightly, we are not only exposing ourselves to food poisoning but also other diseases.

by TAN SRI LEE LAM THYE.

Read more @ https://www.nst.com.my/opinion/letters/2020/03/571796/food-restaurant-operators-need-buck-hygiene