Malaysian frontliners get relief from COVID-19 fight

Leaves for Malaysian medical staff
Medical staff to take time off after working hard to keep the public safe.
Image adapted from: @mkhairulazri

Malaysians have been counting down the days until the Movement Control Order (MCO) ends so we can finally stretch our legs outside without worry. While we’ve been doing so, medical frontliners have been working around the clock to keep us all safe from COVID-19. 

Many have taken to making protective gear to show their appreciation for them. But nothing comes as a more timely relief than Health Director-General Dr. Noor Hisham’s announcement on 5th May 2020 that medical health workers will be getting time off after working for 5 months without breaks. 

Rest for medical staff to come in phases

According to the Ministry of Health, there are currently 4,567 recovered COVID-19 cases, which puts the current recovery rate in Malaysia at an impressive 71%. The total number of fatalities also stands at 106, which is just 1.6% of the total confirmed cases.

This has not been an easy feat to achieve for our frontliners, but the fruits of their labour are showing with these numbers. 

There were also 30 additional COVID-19 cases reported yesterday, which is the lowest amount of new cases since the start of MCO. 

COVID-19 in Malaysia
Recovery rates in Malaysia have been tagging along close by with each daily reported case.
Image credit: KKM 

Now medical staff can breathe a sigh of relief, as they can now take time off from work in phases in the following 1-2 weeks, according to a report by Bernama. Annual leaves for medical staff were  previously frozen as a spike in cases was reported in Malaysia, as reported by New Straits Times back in March 2020. 

Staff will now get the chance to rest their feet after working hard to keep the public safe for 5 months since January 2020 when the first COVID-19 case was recorded in Malaysia. Some have even been working 24-hours straight on weekends and weekdays, as reported by Malay Mail.  

This follows news of a drop in COVID-19 cases expected in mid-May in Malaysia. There has also been a reported reduction in the use of ICUs and wards designated for COVID-19 patients by KKM. Currently, there are only 24 patients receiving treatment in ICUs and 8 on ventilation support as of yesterday.

Medical workers
Image credit: Noor Hisham Abdullah

Time off for medical workers in Malaysia

Malaysia has been showing a lot of promise in dealing with the COVID-19 situation, with several states reporting no new cases and many districts reclassified as green zones. But that doesn’t mean that the fight against the virus is over, especially with businesses reopening nationwide under conditional MCO. 

This is why it’s more important than ever to abide by MCO orders until we finally have virus-free streets to help out those on the frontlines, and keep another spike in COVID-19 cases at bay.

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