CORONAVIRUS | The Ministry of Health has issued a guideline for those going out to buy essential supplies for their households.

According to the guideline, they must remove their face mask and clothing and shower immediately, before they can interact with other members of their household.

Below are steps to be taken after returning home from shopping:

1) Remove mask, put it in a plastic bag and throw it out.

2) Avoid interacting with household members.

3) Head to the shower immediately and remove all clothing worn. Soak the clothing in soapy water before washing them.

4) Shower. Ensure that face and hands are thoroughly washed with soap.

5) After completing all these steps, then only interact with others.

The guideline was issued this morning on the ministry’s social media pages, following the government’s announcement yesterday that only one person per household should go out to buy food and supplies.

This is to avoid crowding in supermarkets and reduce the risk of infection to more people.

Grocery, convenience stores, wet markets and other essential services are still open during the Movement Control Order from March 18 to 31, but Malaysians are told to stay at home unless necessary.

Some 1,183 people have been infected with the virus, while nine have died, as at 1pm on March 22. A total 114 have recovered.

Of those infected, 714 are part of a cluster of cases traced to a tabligh event held at Masjid Sri Petaling, Kuala Lumpur from Feb 27 to March 3.

Some 14,500 Malaysians attended that event, about 4,000 have not yet been traced for checks and testing.