Now that Malaysia has eased its movement control order restrictions, life is slowly going back to normal. But, we need to remember that the pandemic is still among us, thus we need to keep in mind the risk level of various activities and what should be avoided. Wondering what you can and can’t do during this recovery period? Read on further!

P/S: Remember to wear a mask whenever possible and try to keep social distancing as this could alter the risk level significantly.

There’s a low risk of catching the coronavirus from touching your groceries. There is no need to wipe your groceries with antibacterial wipes, but if you’re worried about it, you can keep the non-perishable items in the grocery bag for a few days. You should, however, be cautious when touching high-traffic areas such as doorknobs and elevator buttons.

Shopping in a grocery store or a mall is also considered low risk as long as you wear a mask and practice social distancing. Do avoid bringing children and senior citizens to the mall as they’re in the high-risk group and always remember to sanitize your hands after completing transactions at checkout.

Outdoor activities are low risk as long as you practice social distancing. Walking in a park or hiking are considered safe activities as encounters of more than 15 minutes are riskier than walking past someone. Do outdoor activities with people from the same household and if you’re meeting up with friends or family, remember to take extra precautions.

Indoor dining poses a medium risk level as the air is circulated and people being in an enclosed space for a long period of time. To minimize the risk, restaurants should practice social distancing as per government regulations and you should wear a mask until your food is delivered. Bringing your own utensils would also help minimize the risk.

Hair and nail salons have finally been given the green light to operate and while this is exciting news, do remember to practice personal hygiene when visiting. Wearing a mask is critical as this would help both customers and employees from spreading germs when coughing or sneezing. This would also discourage you from touching your face. Employees should also remember to practice frequent hand washing, especially after completing each customer.

While many activities and economic sectors have been allowed to open, there is a reason why the government has not allowed movie theaters and sporting events to operate. These activities are considered as high risk because of crowding at entries and exits. Sitting in a confined area is also a high risk, even when practicing social distancing.

Now that we’re allowed to travel interstate, many are already planning to balik kampung or reunite with friends. However, do remember that getting together with friends or family who are not from the same household poses a high risk. We are less likely to wear a mask and practice social distancing when gathering, and asymptomatic people could spread the virus. If you do decide to balik kampung to meet your parents and get together with friends, you should consider their age (remember that senior citizens are a high-risk group) and their underlying conditions. Are they mostly staying at home? Are they meeting different friends every day? It’s not just your family and friends that you’re meeting, but also everyone that they’ve come into contact with.

Until a vaccine for COVID-19 is found, we should be cautious in our daily life. Keep on practicing personal hygiene and social distancing for our safety and health. Let’s all be disciplined to avoid an increase in COVID-19 cases!

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