key: cord-0721561-heysgffz authors: Shah, Ain Umaira Md; Safri, Syafiqah Nur Azrie; Thevadas, Rathedevi; Noordin, Nor Kamariah; Rahman, Azmawani Abd; Sekawi, Zamberi; Ideris, Aini; Sultan, Mohamed Thariq Hameed title: COVID-19 Outbreak in Malaysia: Actions Taken by the Malaysian Government date: 2020-06-02 journal: Int J Infect Dis DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.05.093 sha: e1d19014f35bb6e5d88fdd8816c8d9d70f5e5cc3 doc_id: 721561 cord_uid: heysgffz AIM AND BACKGROUND: COVID-19, a novel pneumonia disease originated from Wuhan, was confirmed by World Health Organization on 12th January 2020 before becoming an outbreak in all countries. OUTBREAK SITUATION: A stringent screening process in all airports had been enforced after the first case outside China was reported in Thailand. Up to 14th April 2020, Malaysia reported two waves of COVID-19 cases, which the first wave was successfully ended in less than two months. In early March 2020, the second wave arose with worrying situations. ACTIONS TAKEN: Malaysia government enforced the Movement Control Order starting from 18th March 2020 to seriously break the chain of COVID-19. Media actively spread the hashtag #stayhome. Non-governmental organizations including prison inmates were the earliest to sew personal protective equipment to frontliners. Various organizations hosted fund raising to provide essentials mainly to hospitals. Provisional hospital was set up, collaborations with healthcare service providers were granted while additional laboratories were assigned in enhancing the proficiency of Ministry of Health. ECONOMIC DOWNTURN: Initial financial stimulus amount RM 20.0 billion was released in February 2020 before the highlighted PRIHATIN package, amount RM 250 billion was announced. The PRIHATIN package was an all-inclusive support from the government to society in various backgrounds from students, families to business owners. The world is currently experiencing a deadly infectious disease from the type of coronavirus Up to the date the data in Table 1 was retrieved; the total number of cases reported globally was 156 1,699,632 with 102,734 deaths and 376,330 recovered cases. Figure 2 summarises the fraction of In Malaysia, the threat of COVID-19 reared its head when neighboring Singapore reported its 163 first imported COVID-19 case from Wuhan, China on 23rd January 2020, which was also the 164 first positive case in the republic. From this first case, eight close contacts were identified as 165 being in Johor, Malaysia (Abdullah, 2020b) . 166 In less than 48 hours from the first case reported in Singapore, Malaysia reported its first 167 COVID-19 positive case on 25th January 2020. It was an imported case from Wuhan, China 168 (Abdullah, 2020c) . A total of eight positive cases was reported within 6 days, starting from the 169 first case. All these cases were imported cases from China (Abdullah, 2020d) . The first 170 Malaysian tested with positive COVID-19 was reported on 3rd February 2020 with travel history to a neighboring country for a business meeting, which was also attended by a delegation from 172 China (Ahmad, 2020). 173 Overall, reported cases in Malaysia can be divided into three waves as at 31st March 2020. The 174 first wave was successfully handled by 27th February 2020 with all 22 cases reported previously 175 being discharged from hospitals. Most cases reported in the first wave were imported cases from 176 China and their contacts. Only two cases were found to be of local transmission (Abdullah, 177 2020e). Table 2 shows the number of cases for the first wave of COVID 19 in Malaysia. The subsequent key step taken by the Ministry of Health along with the government to overcome 236 the spread of COVID-19 is by increasing the number of hospitals that can treat COVID-19 cases. There is also a group effort between both public and private hospitals to accommodate the processes. Other than that, the money collected will be used to cater for medical expenses such RM1 billion fund allocation to the Ministry of Health for medical equipment purchases and to pay for services in addition to RM500 million announced earlier. RM600 allowance for healthcare personnel and RM200 allowance to frontliners such as police, immigration and customs personnel. Healthcare personnel and frontliners such as police, immigration and customs personnel. RM10 billion allocation to fund B40 and M40 families under the National Caring Aid (Bantuan Prihatin Nasional) that includes; a) RM1,600 one-off payment involving 4 million households earning below RM4,000. b) RM1,000 one-off payment involving 1.1 million households earning RM4,001 and RM8,000. c) RM800 one-off payment for unmarried persons aged 21 and above who earn lower than RM2,000. d) o RM500 one-off payment for 4,000 singles aged 21 and above who earn RM2,000-RM4,000. J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f 15% -50% electricity bill discount beginning on 1 st April 2020 for 6 months. Free internet from all Telcos beginning 1 st April 2020 until the end of MCO. People Housing Projects (PPR) and public housing residents are exempted from paying rental for 6 months. The government allows pre-retirement withdrawal for Private Retirement Scheme (PRS) up to RM1500 without tax penalties. Wage Subsidy Programme for workers who earn RM4000 and below for 3 months. RM500 one-off payments for civil servants including contract staff (Grade 56 and lower). Civil Servants RM200 one-off payment for all students of higher learning institutions. RM500 one-off payment for e-hailing drivers. E-hailing drivers RM250 one-off payment for government pensioners. Buildings belong to the government such as convenience stores, day-care centres and school canteens will be exempted from rental payment. Business Owner RM25 million allocation in collaboration with NGOs to provide food and shelter for senior citizens, Orang Asli and the disabled. Senior Citizens, Orang Asli and individual with disabilities National Health Protection Scheme (MySalam) and COVID-19 quarantine patients are entitled to receive RM50 per day for 14 days. An allocation of RM400 million to upgrade the broadband network. Cleaning and catering contract workers at schools, public universities and training institutions, and government agencies will be paid salary and their term of service will be extended for another month by taking into account the MCO period. Insurance and takaful sectors will provide a special RM8 million fund to beef up COVID-19 tests. Each policyholder can go for a screening test worth up to RM300 in private hospitals and laboratories. Kesiapsiagaan dan respons KKM dalam menghadapi 500 potensi penularan novel Coronavirus Clinical features of patients infected 609 with 2019 novel Coronavirus in Wuhan Health Minister: Malaysians returning from Wuhan to be Home screening service now available Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): current 619 status and future perspectives 2019-nCoV transmission through the ocular surface must not be 622 ignored. The Lancet Covid-19: Panic and the Malaysian economy USM researchers prove automatic sanitising tunnel can be built 629 for RM1,500. New Straits Time Covid-19 to place Malaysian economy into technical recession MoH, TNB initiate financial support to fight COVID-19 New Straits Times Educational institutions produce face shields to help The work from home revolution COVID-19: UMK peruntukkan RM49,000 bantu pelajar New 652 OECD outlook on the global economy. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and 653 Coronavirus cases hit 17,400 and are likely to surge Effectiveness of airport screening at detecting 659 travellers infected with novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) COVID-19: UTM terus perkasa operasi susulan lanjutan PKP jamin 662 kebajikan pelajar. UTM News Hub Transmission of 2019-nCoV Infection from an asymptomatic contact in 667 Germany A 670 comprehensive timeline of the new Coronavirus pandemic, from China's first COVID-19 case to Penyelidik UPM hasikan 700 produk sanitasi tangani Covid-19. Sinar 675 Harian First two persons infected with Coronavirus Malaysia's PM Muhyiddin announces RM250bn 'Prihatin' package Covid-19: Malaysian 3D printing enthusiasts produce face shields to Coronaviruses and Acute Respiratory Syndromes (COVID-19, MERS, and 689 SARS) Malaysia bans public events to curb COVID-19 spread The Edge Markets Wuhan coronavirus: No plans to stop Chinese tourists for now COVID-19: Public can now contribute to Health Ministry. The 700 NGO educates public on disease. The Star Lots of incentives in stimulus package. The Star Clinical characteristics of 138 709 hospitalized patients with 2019 novel Coronavirus-infected pneumonia in Wuhan WHO Statement regarding cluster of pneumonia 716 cases in Wuhan Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation 719 report-44 Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the 722 public Evaluation of Coronavirus in tears and conjunctival 728 secretions of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection Prihatin Rakyat Economic Stimulus Package (PRIHATIN) Malaysia government allocates additional RM600 million for 734 Health Ministry to combat COVID-19. Channel News Asia