Don't let your guard down yet you guys.
While the number of new COVID-19 cases have been relatively low recently, we're still not free of the virus.
Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah explained that Malaysia would only be declared as free from COVID-19 if no new cases emerge for a period of 28 days.
Dr Noor Hisham said that 28days equated to two COVID-19 incubation cycles.
The figure is also used by the ministry before declaring the end of a COVID-19 cluster.
“Using this as a benchmark, if the country has zero cases for 28 days straight, we can declare it COVID-19 free,” said Dr Noor Hisham as reported by The Star.
Deaths have risen to 413,372 cases now.
While the numbers may seem grim, it is not impossible to stamp out the virus.
Quite a number of countries have done it actually and they include Fiji, New Zealand, Montenegro, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Seychelles, Timor-Leste, Tanzania and the Vatican City.
So keep washing your hands, using masks, sanitisers and maintaining social distance and we may be able to join the list of COVID-19 free countries soon.
While the number of new COVID-19 cases have been relatively low recently, we're still not free of the virus.
Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah explained that Malaysia would only be declared as free from COVID-19 if no new cases emerge for a period of 28 days.
Why 28 days?
We know what you're thinking. That seems like a loooooong time but there's a reason behind the number.Dr Noor Hisham said that 28days equated to two COVID-19 incubation cycles.
The figure is also used by the ministry before declaring the end of a COVID-19 cluster.
“Using this as a benchmark, if the country has zero cases for 28 days straight, we can declare it COVID-19 free,” said Dr Noor Hisham as reported by The Star.
Not an impossible task
According to the latest report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) dated 11 June, there are a total of 7 273 958 postive COVID-19 cases worldwide.Deaths have risen to 413,372 cases now.
While the numbers may seem grim, it is not impossible to stamp out the virus.
Quite a number of countries have done it actually and they include Fiji, New Zealand, Montenegro, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Seychelles, Timor-Leste, Tanzania and the Vatican City.
So keep washing your hands, using masks, sanitisers and maintaining social distance and we may be able to join the list of COVID-19 free countries soon.
