KUALA LUMPUR, May 12 — A group of medical specialists today proposed limiting Hari Raya festivities to family members living in the same house.
The Academy of Medicine of Malaysia (AMM) expressed its disappointment with Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s announcement that allowed “small” Hari Raya celebrations of not more than 20 persons, saying that such gatherings will increase the prevalence of Covid-19 infections in the community.
Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah yesterday clarified that although 20 visitors are allowed at one’s home during Hari Raya celebrations, only family members are permitted to visit.
“It has been proven that it only takes one infected person to spread the disease unknowingly to family members,” AMM said in a press statement today.
AMM also said that interstate restrictions, which are still in place, should be observed tightly to contain the virus in red zones with above 40 cases, while maintaining the green zones without any Covid-19 cases.
Red zones as of today, according to the Ministry of Health (MOH), based on active infectious cases who are all in hospital, are in Petaling and Gombak in Selangor; four districts in Kuala Lumpur; Kluang, Johor; Rembau, Negri Sembilan; and Kuching, Sarawak.
AMM recommended habits of good hand hygiene, maintaining physical distancing, avoiding mass gatherings, and wearing face masks in public to control the spread of the coronavirus.
“We should not allow an excessive relaxation of Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) restrictions to reverse hard-won victories achieved through the sacrifices of rakyat and frontliners alike,” said AMM.
The CMCO has been extended from May 12 until June 9, during which the economy has largely reopened and individuals can move freely, but borders remain closed and interstate travel, even during festive seasons, is banned.
In Queensland, Australia, only 10 guests are allowed for social gatherings outside the home except for funerals. The UK government allows people to carry out outdoor activities and meet with only one person outside a household.
