LETTER | The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) is pleased to note that there have been regular engagements between the Health Ministry (MOH) and stakeholders on the Covid-19 situation in the country. Since Covid-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO), further steps to manage possible outcomes have also been discussed with the experts and we are confident the situation is being managed well.

MOH has also been transparent in providing sufficient information and regular updates to the public. However, public support of MOH's efforts will be key in controlling and stopping the spread of infections. Avoiding mass gatherings is one of the preventive measures that must be taken seriously by the public.

MMA urges the public to give its full support and cooperate with MOH especially in its contact tracing efforts, such as for case 131, which can be a tedious process but are among crucial steps in preventing further spread of the disease.

We also urge those who feel they may have Covid-19 symptoms to first call MOH's Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre's (CPRC) hotline at 03-8881 0200, 03-8881 0600, 03-8881 0700 or email [email protected] to check if they may be a patient under investigation (PUI) as a first step to rule out if they may be infected with Covid-19. This would reduce overcrowding in government hospitals and serve also as a preventive measure in protecting others from being infected.

MMA also wishes to remind the public of the importance of keeping up the discipline of maintaining good personal hygiene. Washing hands frequently with soap or using a hand sanitizer along with boosting the immune system are steps that can be easily taken to protect against infection.

It is also important to stay well informed on the situation with accurate information from the right sources. We urge the public to visit the health ministry's website for accurate, up to date information on the Covid-19 situation in the country.

It is also hoped that efforts will be stepped up by the authorities to address the spread of fake news and misinformation on social media that can hinder progress in managing Covid-19 in the country.

N GANABASKARAN  is the president of the Malaysian Medical Association.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.