Malaysian Health Coalition urges the government to act decisively, firmly

The MHC, who are Malaysia’s emergency physicians, critical care specialists, intensivists and public health physicians, have asked to to take three decisive and firm steps:

1. Act decisively in prohibiting mass gatherings. This should be uniformly applied across all government agencies, private businesses, civil societies, religious authorities and communities. This is not a lockdown, which is too extreme and unnecessary. Essential services should continue, and citizens should have basic freedom of movement.
2. Act firmly to educate the public about “social distancing”, which is the best intervention to reduce viral spread. We must provide adequate support for workers (who may lose income), employers (who may lose revenue) and citizens (who may lose services). We must protect the mental and physical health of older adults staying at home; civil society organizations can help fill this gap.
3. Deliver clear, coordinated and confident risk communications to Malaysians, to provide a reliable source of information, advice and recommendations.

Read here (Malaysian Health Coalition, March 16, 2020)