Dr Noor Hisham: Lying to healthcare workers will affect frontliners and other patients

With 2,335 new COVID-19 cases reported yesterday, Malaysia currently has more than 20,035 active cases receiving treatment which is also a new record high. This means our healthcare workers are more important than ever as more COVID-19 cases require treatment.

Unfortunately, the reckless behaviour of irresponsible individuals can put more people including critical frontliners at risk. As shared by Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham, a medical staff was recently tested positive after treating a patient that failed to disclose having cough and fever a few days prior. Dr Noor Hisham has warned the public not to lie to frontliners as they need to be protected.

He said if you have experienced any symptoms or made close contact to a positive case, you shouldn’t lie to healthcare workers. He added that the irresponsible actions will affect other patients and healthcare workers as well as their families. If healthcare workers are affected, it would also affect the hospital’s resource to fight the pandemic.

The Health D-G has shared a post by Nur Marini Zainal about her experience treating a patient who was initially declared healthy with low risk. When the doctor ran a CT scan, she discovered that the patient’s lung condition was similar to a COVID-19 patient. When she asked further, the patient later admitted having cough and fever for the past week but now was feeling slightly better for the CT scan appointment.

Unfortunately, two days later, the patient was confirmed COVID-19 positive. She said the action of the patient had caused a lot of trouble to a lot of people.

Initially, the doctor’s situation was classified as low risk as both individuals were wearing surgical masks during the 5-15 minute encounter. She wasn’t wearing any additional PPE as it was only required when dealing with high-risk patient due to limited PPE supply.

Feeling doubtful, she took the initiative to take a COVID-9 swab test at another hospital and to self-quarantine despite not showing any symptoms. Sadly, her test result came back positive. She was sad that she has to be isolated from her children and husband, and she’s also concerned about the wellbeing of her fellow colleagues and family members who might have gotten infected by her.

Before signing off, she stressed the importance of honesty as irresponsible action by just one person can affect a lot of people.

[ SOURCE, IMAGE SOURCE ]

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