Influenza A: No blanket shutdown for schools

NST: PUTRAJAYA: There will be no blanket closure of schools or a ban on public gatherings for now.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said “social distancing” in the Klang Valley was not needed yet as the closure of four schools after several students came down with influenza A (H1N1) was sufficient. This is because strict preventive and management measures had been put in place.
However, this decision may change as a technical committee chaired by Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican is meeting today to discuss ways to stop the spread of the virus.
Up for discussion is the possibility of closing schools in the Klang Valley if there are more local transmissions.
Earlier in the day, Muhyiddin, speaking to reporters after a dialogue session with heads of Malaysian missions at the Seventh Heads of Mission Conference at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre yesterday, said the government would step up vigilance to contain the outbreak.
“Do not be too alarmed about it. We will manage the situation.
I wouldn’t want to predict that possibility (blanket social distancing measures) until and unless there is “We don’t want the people to
be unnecessarily alarmed, (considering) the effect that (social distancing) would have on the Klang Valley if this action is taken without proper considerations. ”
Muhyiddin, who is also National Security Council chairman, said the Health Ministry had been directed to organise briefing sessions for teachers and parents to address issues concerning the closure of schools to give them updates on the H1N1 outbreak.
Asked if the government was expecting the pandemic to worsen, Muhyiddin said Malaysia would continue keeping its guard up and follow the protocols in managing H1N1, as advised by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
“I want things to get better but, as you know, there is a lot of mobility not only within but outside the country, and people from all over the place still come to Malaysia.”
He said WHO had to come up with some broad understanding on the additional steps that needed to be taken to contain the pandemic.
Asked if Malaysia would push for countries with confirmed cases to impose exit health screening, he said the matter had been raised but there was no consensus.
“Until there is a consensus on what mode and steps are to be taken globally, we will adopt the present arrangement."