In light of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the Malaysian government has ordered all Malaysians to adhere to the Restricted Movement Order (RMO), which restricts movements outdoors in order to curb the spread of COVID-19. This order spans for 2 weeks starting 18 March until 31 March 2020.
Here are some guides to help to keep you and your family safe and healthy during the RMO period:
1. Stay indoors
Although schools, universities and offices (unless stated otherwise by the authorities) are closed, you may spend time and bond as a family indoors!
Q-dees’ Link & Think Reading Series encourages parents to read and learn while connecting with their children. This will help your children develop a good reading habit, and simultaneously widen their vocabulary! Here are some activity ideas that you can do while you are indoors with your children!
Despite the order, parents can go out to acquire daily necessities such as food supplies and to seek medical attention at the nearest clinic and hospital.
2. Maintain ‘social distance’
Avoid crowded places and attending mass gatherings that will make you prone to COVID-19.
Authorities have sought Malaysians to cancel any gatherings and meetings unless it is for official purposes. Fret not—you may still go out to purchase all necessities but remember to maintain a distance between 1-2 metres from others.
If the local authority stops you, stay calm and request them to provide their identification before you provide them with yours. Once you are able to verify their identities, you may calmly comply with the orders you are receiving.
Please ensure that you wear a mask when you are outside, wash your hands frequently and keep a hand sanitiser with you at all times.
Remember: better to be safe than sorry!
3. Practise good personal hygiene
Make sure to educate your children on the right way to wash their hands. Wash your hands with soap for 20 seconds before rinsing with water before and after you eat, when leaving the washroom, and upon entering your house. Lather sanitiser on your hands and rub it thoroughly. You can also monitor your family’s temperature daily.
If you or any of your family members are showing COVID-19 symptoms, please seek medical attention as quickly as possible. However, contact the nearest hospital first to inform of your arrival. This will allow the hospital personnel enough time to accommodate you and other patrons better and with proper protocol.
4. Use delivery food services
If you are running out of food supplies and still prefer to stay indoors, you can utilise food delivery services! It is the easiest way to support those who are putting their lives on the line in order to provide us with such services, therefore thank and tip the riders and delivery people generously!
5. Practise proper coughing and sneezing etiquette
If you need to cough or sneeze, make sure to cover your mouth and nose using your hands, elbows, disposable tissue, or handkerchief.
Please ensure to exercise good personal hygiene by washing your hands and elbows with soap and lathering sanitiser to kill the bacteria. If you coughed and sneezed into a handkerchief, wash it thoroughly with water and detergent. Dispose of the tissue properly as soon as it is used.
6. Keep up with reliable news
Follow the latest news on COVID-19 through television and reliable news sites online. Get access to the latest information from the Government and Ministries’ official Twitter and Facebook accounts should you rely on information disseminated online.
Do not spread unreliable news sources through WhatsApp and other micro-messaging sites. Give news that you have been receiving a benefit of the doubt by checking on the MCMC-linked website, sebenarnya.my.
Our power to disseminate news to our friends will have a great impact on our community and society. Please be responsible with the information that you have received and verify the authenticity of the news before clicking send.
Give Q-dees’ official Facebook page a like for the latest information straight from us and for more tips on how to bond as a family and community during this RMO period.
It’s time to #KitaJagaKita! Every action counts, so stay indoors and let’s #FlattentheCurve!
References
1. Federal Government Gazette. Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures Within the Infected Local Areas) Regulations 2020. http://www.federalgazette.agc.gov.my/outputp/pua_20200318_PUA91_2020.pdf
2. World Health Organization. Advice for Public. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public
3. World Health Organization. Clean hands protect against infection. https://www.who.int/gpsc/clean_hands_protection/en/
4. World Health Organization. Protect others from getting sick.. https://www.who.int/images/default-source/health-topics/coronavirus/social-media-squares/blue-3.png
Together we fight corona virus