By Adrian Lim
KUCHING, May 16: Children aged 12 years below and infants are considered high risk groups identified by the Ministry of Health (MoH) for Covid-19 infection in Malaysia besides elderly people.
Health director general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said they need to be protected as not to be exposed to Covid-19 infection.
“Until May 16, there are 317 positive cases of Covid-19 involving children of 12 years old and below.
“Out of that amount, 112 cases or 35 per cent involving children between four years old and below and 22 cases or seven per cent involved infants less than one year old.
“As of now, there is no Covid-19 casualty which involved children below 12 and infants,” he told a press conference on the updates of Covid-19 situation in Malaysia at MoH’s headquarters in Putrajaya today.
Dr Noor Hisham revealed that Selangor recorded the highest number of positive Covid-19 case for children between 12 years old and below.
He disclosed that there were 77 cases in Selangor followed by Negeri Sembilan with 48 cases, Johor (46), Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya (28) and Sabah (26).
Dr Noor Hisham believed Covid-19 could be transmitted to children or infants by their family members or their parents at home.
As a result, he encouraged parents who returned home to take bath first and use hand sanitizer before touching and caring for their children.
Citing an example, Dr Noor Hisham explained that a parent might have contacted Covid-19 while out in the public places.
As the parent goes back home, he noted that the parent might have the possibility of transmitting the virus to his or her children or even to the elderly people at home.
At the same time, Dr Noor Hisham encouraged parents to teach their children about practicing good personal hygiene, washing hands frequently and wearing face masks while in the public.
When asked by reporters whether there are severe Covid-19 cases among children in Malaysia, Dr Noor Hisham replied that MoH has yet to see that situation.
But, he explained Covid-19 affects the lung, which caused pneumonia, throat and blood vessel which caused blood cloth.
In children, Dr Noor Hisham opined that they could be infected with the Kawasaki syndrome which is the inflammation of the blood vessel.
Elaborating further, he said children could have fever first and subsequently their blood vessels will experience inflammation.
Thus, Dr Noor Hisham said MoH is trying to prevent children from being infected with Covid-19 by urging parents to be take good care of them.
He believed prevention is better than cure and stressed that MoH strives to provide good quality care for children.
Earlier, Dr Noor Hisham asserted that elderly people are also categorised as high risk group for Covid-19 infection. – DayakDaily
