CORONAVIRUS | Only one in five (22 percent) of new Covid-19 cases since May 4 - the start of the conditional movement control order (MCO) - involved Malaysians.

This was revealed by Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdulah during his daily press briefing today.

"We feel that Malaysians are complying to our SOPs," he said.

He said the low number of Malaysians being infected with Covid-19 was "very encouraging".

He said that if the number of Malaysians being infected is kept to the low double-digits, then Malaysia can ease more restrictions.

"(If this trajectory continues), we could look into opening up more sectors before June 9 (when the conditional MCO expires). Slowly, but surely, (we can) open up more sectors.

"We are also looking at (opening up) schools, mainly for Form 5 and Upper 6 students. They are facing exams and priority must be given to them," he said.

Hisham (above) said that the Covid-19 virus was already in the community and the way to address the outbreak was to instil a new culture through community empowerment.

For instance, in view that most of the new Covid-19 cases this month involved foreigners, Hisham said the onus was on employers to ensure that staff under their care practised proper hygiene and social distancing.

"We need to adapt so that we can survive with the virus until there is a vaccine.

"The public has equal responsibility. The community has to protect itself, their families and their country.

"This is a whole of government and society approach. If all of us come together, perhaps we can break the chain of Covid-19 infections," he said.

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

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