By Joan D.
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 14: Many doctors in the country have started advising their patients, friends and family members to mask-up and stay safe amid the growing number of Covid-19 cases.
Director-General of Health, Dr Radzi Abu Hassan, on Wednesday (Dec 13) announced that cases in the country had increased by 88 per cent to 12,757 in barely a week.
Associate Professor Dr Saraswati Bina Rai, a public health medical lecturer attached to the AIMST University in Sungai Petani, Kedah, meanwhile has called on the public to take all the precautionary steps to avoid getting ill with the Covid virus.
“In fact, as the chairman of the Covid Task Force for the University, this has been made compulsory for everyone to observe these safety steps.
”Masks, when worn properly, have been proven to reduce transmission especially together with other actions such as hand hygiene. It’s also wise for the elderly and those at high risk to get their flu shot.”
Family physician Dr Kung Sie Syn also cautioned people against going easy just because they have been vaccinated. “Just because you have been vaccinated before does not mean you are cleared of the virus. You may catch a mild case of Covid-19.”
It is also important not to go around spreading the virus, so the best would be to mask up and avoid spreading it, he said.
For the Westwood family, who will be celebrating Christmas and New Year in a little more than two weeks’ time, the risk of catching a case of the influenza or Covid-19 is something they want to totally avoid.
“It is important for us all to be in the pink of health to celebrate Christmas and New Year and hence we are making it a point to religiously follow all the steps that we took during the pandemic. These include masking up in public areas and using hand sanitisers for cleaner hands that are possibly free from any virus,” said Pamela Westwood who plans to celebrate the coming festive season in Kuala Lumpur.
“We want to be able to enjoy the festive and holiday season and welcome the new year on a healthy note. Likewise, the same advice to everyone too.”
–WE