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PUTRAJAYA: As Malaysia sees a decline in new daily COVID-19 infections, health workers who have been working around the clock for five months can now take shifts to rest, the Health Ministry said on Tuesday ( May 5th).
The ministry’s director general, Noor Hisham Abdullah, said health workers who have been caring for patients under treatment will receive a break in the next two weeks.
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“Healthcare leaders have been working daily for five months. There are no breaks. Now that cases are shrinking, the ICU and even the COVID-19 wards are being used much less.
“So in the next one or two weeks, they will take turns to have some free time,” he said.
Malaysia reported 30 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, a record low since the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO). The count amounts to 6,383 cases, with 106 deaths.
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While healthcare workers can take a breather now, Dr. Noor Hisham said they will also be counseled to prepare for the worst in case of an increase in cases.
“We are definitely preparing for the worst. Of course, we hope for the best but prepare for the worst, “he said.
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Additionally, Dr. Noor Hisham said the ministry will take this period to restructure the distribution of labor and equipment.
He emphasized that health workers were the “final defense” again against the COVID-19 virus. “We are the defense against death and the spread of the virus,” he said.
Health workers collect samples for the COVID-19 test in Gombak, outside Kuala Lumpur, on April 22, 2020. (Photo: AFP / Mohd Rasfan)
Following news reports that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) was investigating a company for a contract of more than RM30 million (US $ 6.9 million) to supply massive test laboratory systems to a ministry, Dr. Noor Hisham said the ministry will cooperate with any necessary investigations.
“This is a case of MACC. We forward the reports to them. We will always work with them if necessary, ”he said when asked to comment on the matter.
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