CORONAVIRUS | Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has warned against spreading false news allegedly involving a "message from a doctor" at the Penang General Hospital.

Chow (above), who now conducts his press conferences via Facebook Live, said he had received the message of a doctor lamenting that the hospital lacked the equipment to deal with Covid-19 pandemic.

The message which went viral also stated that a newborn baby was infected with the virus and doctors are panicking since there are not enough ICUs and testing kits.

"I was informed by the Penang Health Department that the letter is fake, and the content not true at all.

"I wish to emphasise that the Penang government always works together with the State Health Department to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic, including ensuring that hospitals have adequate equipment.

"As chief minister, I would never allow Penangites to be threatened by the disease without acting fast on any issue concerning the spread of the pandemic," said Chow, reading a prepared statement.  

Penang has recorded 30 cases of Covid-19, while nationwide, the figure has touched 900, with 110 new cases, where 63 traced back to the cluster of infections from a religious gathering from Feb 27 to March 1 in Seri Petaling, Kuala Lumpur. 

Authorities have also refuted several fake news, including the one involving Tesco Malaysia and the photos of crowded mamak stalls which were actually taken last year.

The police have launched multiple roadblocks on the island and mainland, while the local councils have been on the ground to check if eateries and shops are complying with the movement control order issued by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on March 16. 

Eateries are only allowed to provide takeaways and home deliveries, while outlets providing essential services are permitted to operate.

Keep up with the latest information on the outbreak in the country with Malaysiakini's free Covid-19 tracker.