Movement Control Order: What You Need to Know

Last night (16 March 2020), Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Malaysia's Prime Minister, announced that the government is imposing a 14-day Movement Control Order from March 18 until March 31, nationwide in order to curb the spread of the Covid-19 in Malaysia.
The Movement Control Order is imposed under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 and well as the Police Act 1967, which covers a range of activities.

First, here are some facts about the virus that is affecting the whole world. 

FACTS Coronavirus disease (COVID-10) is an infectious disease caused by a new virus that had not been previously identified in humans. The virus causes respiratory illness (like the flu) with symptoms such as a cough, fever and  in more severe cases, pneumonia. You can protect yourself by washing your hands frequently and avoiding touching your face.  HOW IS SPREADS: The virus spreads primarily through contact with an infected person when they cough or sneeze, or through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose.  SYMPTOMS: Covid-19 is characterized by mild symptoms including a runny nose, sore throat, cough, and fever. Illness can be more severe for some people and can lead to pneumonia or breathing difficulties.  More rarely, the disease can be fatal. Older people, and people with other medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease), maybe more vulnerable to becoming severely ill.  PREVENTION: There is NO VACCINE to prevent Covid-19.  You can reduce your risk of infection if you:

• Clean hands frequently with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water

• Cover nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing with tissue and flexed elbow

• Avoid close contact (1 metre or 3 feet) with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms

TREATMENTS: There is no specific medicine to prevent or treat Covid-19. People may need supportive care to help them breathe. If you have mild symptoms, stay at home until you've recovered. You can relieve your symptoms if you:

• rest and sleep

• keep warm

• drink plenty of fluids

• use a room humidifier or take a hot shower to ease a sore throat and cough

MEDICAL TREATMENTS: If you develop a fever, cough and have difficulty breathing, promptly seek medical care. Call in advance and tell the health provider of any recent travel or recent contact with travelers.

Source: WHO

All houses of worship and business premises will be closed, with the exception of supermarkets, public markets, and sundry and convenience shops which sell daily essentials. So guys, no need to join in the panic buying movement.

Guess what? The chance that you might get infected during the panic buying is higher since everybody is gathered in an area. Be careful people. 

Throughout the period, there will be no traveling overseas for Malaysians and certainly no flying in for foreign tourists too. Recently travelers are required to undergo health checks and self-quarantine for 14 days.

Here are more facts that we need to know.

As of yesterday, the total number of Covid-19 positive cases in Malaysia is 553 cases.

Here are some tips for all of us during the Movement Control Order

1. Buy items, no need to stock up, yet: Buy your weekly groceries like usual, don't join in the panic buying trend. And no need to buy the whole canned food that you see - buy greens and fresh items too. 
2. Cook healthy food: You're on movement control meaning you can move but be precautious and mind where you go. Buy fresh items and cook healthy food for the family to ensure everyone is well-fed and not malnourished. 
3. Don't be too isolated: Again, it is movement control, not lockdown. Keep in touch with your family and friends - that's why Facetime is invented. You cannot survive alone people. If you know someone that is being quarantined, be there for them - via FaceTime. 
4. Be fit: You can still exercise people. There are a lot of exercise movements that you can do at home - just search the YouTube people. We don't want to suffer from obesity after two weeks of movement control.
5. Clean home: Yes. I can finally clean my house now as I have a lot of time to spend sorting out the items at my house. This will be another form of exercise too.
6. Online: You get to spend more time surfing online, be connected with anyone and also get the updates even faster. But make sure to get the facts right first before acting on it.
7. Plan your entertainment: Get/ download games and plan the Netflix series to watch. If you are like me, I will plan my novels to read (or reread) too.
8. Work from home, professionally: If you need to work from home, do it professionally - don't wear pyjama throughout the day. You will not be producing in your sweats - dress appropriately ok. And make sure you are alert of the form of communication agreed by your workmates so that you'll get jobs done.
9. Be healthy: Please take care of your own health - be healthy and always practice good personal hygiene. 
10. You can still move: Not LOCKDOWN people - only movement restriction. But it is very much advisable to stay put and not travel much. 

People, be alert and be safe. 

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