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830 more nurses for government hospitals, says Health Minister

KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Health (MOH) will place 830 nurses in government hospitals to tackle the spread of Covid-19 in this country, according to Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba.

He said their appointments on a contract basis was to beef up the manpower capacity at 135 government hospitals across the country in view of the spike in Covid-19 cases since last week.

“They, comprising nurses who have completed their studies at the ministry’s nursing colleges, will serve for two years,“ he said at the daily media conference on Covid-19, here today.

Dr Adham said Malaysia had sufficient medical manpower including more than 60,000 doctors in the public and private sectors.

“We have enough (professional medical practitioners) in every state at this moment but what we need now is (more) infectious disease physicians,“ he added.

Besides that, he said the MOH had 926 medical ventilators including 152 non-invasive ventilators and 142 transport ventilators.

“The ministry is ordering 800 more ventilators to meet the current need,“ he added.

On a related development, Dr Adham said of the attendees at the recent four-day Tabligh Assembly held at Sri Petaling Jamek Mosque, more than 7,000 had come forward for Covid-19 screening.

However, he said, the MOH did not know yet the number of positive cases. – Bernama

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March 16, 2020
Covid-19: Sabah may extend school holidays, get private sector to let employees work from home

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government is considering the possibility of extending the current school holidays and getting the private sector to allow their employees to work from home in order to curb the spread of Covid-19.

In appealing to the people to minimise their movements, including avoiding non-essential travel, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said that more measures might be considered.

“I urge the public to stay calm and fully cooperate with the authorities in order to curb the spread of Covid-19. We can overcome this if we all come together to do our part,” he said in a statement today.

Since the first positive case was detected last week, involving a 58-year-old man in Tawau who was among those who attended the Sri Petaling Mosque tabligh gathering in Kuala Lumpur between Feb 27 and March 1, the Sabah Health Department has identified 49 cases in the state as of today.

Health officials in the state have detected more cases from among those who attended the mosque event and steps are being taken to trace the other participants and also the people they have come into contact with over the past 10 days since their return.

“The Health Department and others have been going all out to locate and identify areas that could have been contaminated.

“They have also taken swift measures, including temporarily closing mosque and suraus in areas that have had Covid-19 cases,” said Mohd Shafie, adding that since Jan 30, the Sabah government had halted the arrivals of tourists directly from countries affected by the virus.

Of the 49 cases reported in Sabah so far, 14 were in Lahad Datu; followed by Kota Kinabalu (nine); Tawau (eight); Kinabatangan (five); Tuaran (three); Kunak, Putatan and Sandakan (two each); Beaufort, Kota Belud; Papar and Sipitang (one each). — Bernama

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https://www.thesundaily.my/local/covid-19-sabah-may-extend-school-holidays-get-private-sector-to-let-employees-work-from-home-HI2129382

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March 15, 2020
Singapore reports 14 new cases of coronavirus, in biggest daily jump

SINGAPORE: Singapore today confirmed 14 new cases of the novel coronavirus, its health ministry said, marking the biggest daily increase of the infection in the city-state.

Singapore has confirmed a total 226 cases of the virus so far, with 105 having fully recovered. Nine of the cases confirmed on Sunday are imported. — Reuters

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https://www.thesundaily.my/world/singapore-reports-14-new-cases-of-coronavirus-in-biggest-daily-jump-MI2129358

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March 15, 2020
Over 600 Sarawakians were at Sri Petaling mosque gathering

KUCHING: At least 609 Sarawakians have been identified as participants of the recent gathering at the Sri Petaling mosque in Kuala Lumpur that has been linked to a number of Covid-19 cases, State Disaster Management Committee chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said.

He said the actual number had yet to be determined as the committee was still scrutinising the health declaration forms collected from inbound passengers into the state between March 2 and 5.

“I hope those who have yet to report themselves to the nearest health department or hospital will do so immediately as this is very crucial for their own health and society at large,“ he said in a statement issued by his office this evening.

Earlier today, Uggah who is the state Deputy Chief Minister attended a closed-door briefing on Covid-19 situation in Miri where he was informed that 102 of those attending the religious gathering, held from Feb 27 to March 1, were from the city.

“For Miri alone, I have been told that some 74 of them (participants at the gathering) had turned up at the hospital here (to undergo health screening),“ he said.

Uggah also urged Sarawakians who attended the Borneo Ultra Trial Run in Kota Kinabalu recently to report to the nearest health department upon their return for screening.

He said this was very important as there has been more Covid-19 positive cases in Sabah than Sarawak. As of Sunday, Sarawak recorded 20 Covid-19 positive cases while Sabah had 49 cases.

Meanwhile, he said, 12 individuals were currently under observation at the Petronas Sports Village which had been turned into a quarantine centre for the Miri division.

He said that Miri Hospital had the personnel and equipment to face the Covid-19 situation, and was collaborating with private hospitals around the northern Sarawak city.

“I would like to assure the people in Miri and in the state that we want to provide the best for them,“ he added. — Bernama

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March 15, 2020
Govt to convene special Covid-19 meeting tomorrow to discuss further measures

JOHOR BARU: The government will convene a special Covid-19 meeting tomorrow to discuss further measures needed to contain infections, following the spike in cases to a total of 428 recorded until noon today, since the beginning of infections in the country.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba (pix) said apart from Health Ministry representatives, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and representatives of the Defence Ministry are also expected to attend.

“We (Malaysia) have now entered the ‘late containment’ phase”, he said, in view of the 428 cases recorded so far.

He told reporters this after observing the situation at the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar here today. Also present was Johor Health Director Dr Aman Rabu and state Health and Environment Committee chairman R. Vidyananthan.

Adham said initial investigations indicated that most of the latest cases were linked to the ‘tabligh’ rally cluster – the rally had taken place at Masjid Jamek Sri Petaling in Kuala Lumpur, from Feb 27 to March 1.

He said a total of 190 new cases of the coronavirus had been reported until noon today, bringing the total number of cases to 428.

Adham added that the Health Ministry would invoke section 15 (1) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 to track down and enforce health screening on rally participants who have refused to come forward to health authorities for testing.

“The ministry calls on those who were at the Sri Petaling mosque to contact the nearest District Health Office for further action,“ he said.

The minister added that from Jan 5 until today, a total of 6.8 million people comprising foreigners and Malaysians had undergone health screening at all entry points in Johor, and so far, no positive Covid-19 cases had been detected through the screening.

He also stressed that premises with individuals who have been confirmed to have been infected with Covid-19, should be closed by operators without waiting for instructions from the ministry. — Bernama

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https://www.thesundaily.my/local/govt-to-convene-special-covid-19-meeting-tomorrow-to-discuss-further-measures-XI2129022

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March 15, 2020
Covid-19: Management of Manjung mosques, surau urged to conduct disinfection

LUMUT: The Perak Health Department has urged the management of mosques and ‘surau’ in the Manjung district to carry out disinfection activities following the classification of two individuals from the area as Covid-19 Patients-Under-Investigation (PUI).

“They are only suspected cases but preventive action must be taken,” department director Datuk Dr Ding Lay Ming said in a statement issued today.

Ding was commenting in response to WhatsApp messages circulating since yesterday that the two cases in Manjung were said to be participants of the ‘tabligh’ (religious outreach) rally held on Feb 28 at the Sri Petaling Mosque in Kuala Lumpur.

Meanwhile in KUALA TERENGGANU, all mosques and surau in the state have been encouraged to take the initiative to conduct disinfection activities to curb the spread of the virus.

Terengganu Religious Affairs Department (JHEAT) commissioner Mat Azmi Arshad said although the state had yet to record any cases, implementing preventive measures was very important.

“Besides that, it is hoped that the management of all mosques and surau are more observant of the congregation, advising those who are not healthy to go for a health check-up immediately,” he told Bernama when contacted today.

On the closure of a ‘madrasah’ (religious school) in Kuala Terengganu allegedly due to Covid-19, he said members of the public need not panic as the authorities had taken appropriate action. — Bernama

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https://www.thesundaily.my/local/covid-19-management-of-manjung-mosques-surau-urged-to-conduct-disinfection-IJ2128875

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March 15, 2020
Sarikei MP admitted to Sibu hospital as PUI for Covid-19

SIBU: Sarikei Member of Parliament Wong Ling Biu (pix) of DAP has been admitted to the Sibu Hospital as a patient under investigation (PUI) for Covid-19.

Sarawak Health Director Dr Chin Zin Hing, when contacted by Bernama, confirmed that Wong has been admitted to the hospital and was a PUI.

Wong is said to have attended several political meetings in Kuala Lumpur from Feb 29 until last week following the political upheaval that led to the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that the Sibu Hospital has set up three teams, comprising medical officers and staff, to operate an infectious disease ward, with each team to work a 12-hour shift per day, for any eventuality of positive Covid-19 cases.

They have been told to have their personal belongings packed and a new job roster has been arranged for them.

Deputy Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, who is the State Disaster Management Committee chairman, is expected to visit the hospital tomorrow to see the preparations made by the hospital.

Apart from the Sibu Hospital, the Kemuyang Youth Camp, about 21km from here, has been identified as another centre for quarantine of Covid-19 patients.

Sibu Medical Officer Dr Teh Jo Hun, when contacted by Bernama, confirmed the matter, saying it was still at the planning stage.

He also confirmed that a thermal scanner had been installed at the Sibu Airport to check passengers arriving from outside of Sarawak.

“The thermal scanner was installed on Feb 16. We have three staff at a time to operate the scanner,” he said, adding that there are two teams working two shifts for the purpose until 9pm daily.

Sibu Airport manager Zainuddin Abu Nasir when contacted said Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd had purchased two portable thermal scanners to check its employees.

Meanwhile, the Rector of Sacred Cathedral Reverend Father Philip Hu had urged the Catholics in Sibu to hold special prayer at 3pm daily to seek God’s mercy to end the pandemic and to pray for those who are ill with Covid-19. — Bernama

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https://www.thesundaily.my/local/sarikei-mp-admitted-to-sibu-hospital-as-pui-for-covid-19-DC2127544

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March 14, 2020
Covid-19: 1,000 housemen to assist government hospitals

JOHOR BARU: The Ministry of Health (MOH) will station 1,000 housemen at government hospitals nationwide to help smoothen the day-to-day operations following the Covid-19 pandemic.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba (pix) said all the trainee doctors would undergo a five-day induction training starting from Monday including handling of Covid-19 elements.

Their immediate stationing at the hospitals is to relieve the burden of existing doctors who are focusing their attention on Covid-19 cases.

“They (trainees) have to undergo an induction course and we (MOH) will provide them with skills pertaining to Covid-19 elements before they enter the MOH system,“ he told reporters after hearing a briefing on the Covid-19 situation at Permai Hospital, here, today.

Also present were Johor Health and Environment Committee Chairman R. Vidyananthan and Johor Health Director Dr Aman Rabu.

On the tabligh members who attended a gathering at the Sri Petaling Jamek Mosque, Kuala Lumpur, from Feb 27 to March 1, he said 508 participants from the state who attended the programme had volunteered to have health checks on Covid-19.

“Ninety-four patients were treated at the Permai Hospital with 21 of them positive for Covid-19.

“There are 73 others who are Persons Under Investigation (PUI) for Covid-19 including 13 who are tabligh members who had attended the gathering,“ he said, calling on those who had attended the gathering to volunteer for health examination.

At the same time, the Tenggara Member of Parliament called on the public to respect the government’s decision that all gatherings including international meetings, sports, social and religious events be postponed or canceled accordingly until April 30.

“Concerning the limit of a mass gathering, we have heard the Prime Minister’s (Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin) message that there should be no gathering in the current situation, I urge the people not to hold a public gathering of more than 50 people at any one time,“ he said, advising the public to practice good hygiene. especially washing their hands.

At the same time, he said MOH also urged private hospitals to limit visiting hours as done in government hospitals to reduce the risk of Covid-19 infection.

“We have called for the co-operation of private hospitals to be more stringent in this regard and, the latest, we have reached an understanding with private hospital in dealing with Covid-19,“ he said. — Bernama

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https://www.thesundaily.my/local/covid-19-1000-housemen-to-assist-government-hospitals-XC2127473

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March 14, 2020
Tax on internet ads gets traction in Maryland

A measure to make Maryland the first state in the nation to tax companies like Facebook and Google for money they make from digital ads on the internet is making steps forward in the state’s legislature.

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https://techxplore.com/news/2020-03-tax-internet-ads-traction-maryland.html

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March 13, 2020
California AG drops challenge to T-Mobile-Sprint merger

California’s attorney general said Wednesday that the state will not appeal a judge’s decision approving T-Mobile’s $26.5 billion purchase of Sprint.

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March 11, 2020