PUTRAJAYA: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said major events can proceed as usual despite the government’s efforts to curb the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infection.
She said any restriction of such events would only be made based on the current development of coronavirus and recommendations from the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Dr Wan Azizah was speaking at a press conference after being briefed on the latest developments on coronavirus infection at the Health Ministry’s (MoH) Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC) here yesterday.
“We see how the situation is, if the WHO says we can’t, then we will release further statements about it,” she said when commenting on the staging of major events in the country where efforts to curb the coronavirus infection were being carried out.
The matter was among issues agreed in yesterday’s meeting involving several ministries and agencies pertaining to the control and prevention activities related to coronavirus infection.
Among the ministries involved were the Defence Ministry, Health Ministry, Home Ministry, Foreign Ministry, Education Ministry, Transport Ministry and the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry.
Meanwhile, agencies involved include the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA), Marine Department of Malaysia, Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB).
She added that the screening for travellers from China is to be tightened by establishing a special lane for them at the country’s entry points.
Dr Wan Azizah also said that the government had no plan to extend the travel visa period for Chinese nationals who were already in the country, and urged the public not to spread false news about coronavirus infection. — Bernama