Sin Chew Daily

The 2019 novel coronavirus continues to lash its scourge, with the number of confirmed cases now topping 20,000 in China. Many countries have adopted more stringent measures to battle the virus. Vietnam declared a public health emergency on February 1 while the Philippines has expanded its entry bans now extended to all Mainlanders as well as Hong Kong and Macau residents.

Meanwhile, the number of confirmed cases in Malaysia has soared to ten as of Tuesday. The situation is still under control, but as a precautionary measure, many public activities, including CNY open house events, have been canceled.

The rush for face masks also shows that Malaysians are increasingly worried about the spread of the virus originating from the Chinese city of Wuhan. From a more positive perspective, this shows that people are indeed more aware of the epidemic now, but the sudden rush has dramatically shot up demand for face masks such that demand has far outstripped supply in many areas.

From what we learn, the domestic trade and consumer affairs ministry has met local face mask producers and importers to ensure adequate supply of face masks to satisfy local demands.

As pointed out earlier, the long queues for face masks highlight the fact that Malaysians are growingly more aware of the threats of the deadly coronavirus, but more importantly we need to have the precise information on how to prevent the infection in order to provide maximal protection for ourselves as well as our loved ones.

For example, when, where and under what conditions should we put on a mask? Do we need to put on one as soon as we step out of the house? Besides, what is the right way of putting on the face mask?

We can gain access to the correct information through reliable and trusted media platforms or channels, and should not blindly believe in false information circulated on social media sites.

Currently the coronavirus situation here is well under control without any remarkable surge in the number of new cases. Nevertheless, members of the public must equip themselves with the most up-to-date verified information as soon as possible in order to fend off the infection in an appropriate manner. Simply put, we need to constantly maintain the highest possible level of personal hygiene such as washing hands regularly and disinfecting whenever this is warranted.

Government agencies play a very crucial role in the ongoing battle against the virus. While implementing effective measures to block the entry of the virus, they must also do their utmost to contain the infection within our borders.

Meanwhile, members of the public should also do their bit by adopting the right methods to fend off the virus. Inaccurate information and inappropriate ways will only give rise to unnecessary problems and may even cause widespread panic in the society, defeating the government's effort to contain the infection. The entire outbreak could be put under effective control if Malaysians work hand in hand with the government and fight the war with the right posture.