Avoid gathering for six months to a year - Dr Noor Hisham

While it has not been decided whether the Movement Control Order (MCO) will be extended again or not, the Ministry of Health (MOH) is urging the public not to participate in any form of assembly.

Director-General of Health, Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, said the people should continue the current practice of social distancing to prevent COVID-19 infection for a long time to come.

"Although we do not know whether the MCO will end or not, our practices have changed ... not the norm (as before). For example, we practice safe distancing, including not shaking hands besides washing our hands regularly.

"(In addition) the assemblies ... in the six months to a year we do not encourage the public from gathering by involving a big number of people," he said on Friday.

On the Ramadan bazaar, Dr Noor Hisham said, in addition to adhering to the MOH guidelines, creative and innovative ideas should be implemented if the bazaars are allowed this year to prevent the public from crowding and thus increasing the risk of infection.

"Maybe we need creative ideas and innovations. In the first phase of the MCO, we have seen a 70 per cent increase in home delivery (of food products). We can do something like 'Ramadan e-bazaars', so food can be sent to homes," he added.

The Phase II of the MCO will end on April 14, which is 10 days before Muslims begin the holy month of Ramadan.

The government has previously said that the decision on whether the MCO period will be extended or not will be decided based on the situation of COVID-19 outbreak after the first week of April.