The Chinese New Year will be on February 1st this year, kicking off the year of the Tiger. As the lunar celebration approaches, individuals prepare to immerse themselves in the festivities. People who live away from home typically return to see their families and celebrate the week-long festival. Families will host gatherings to welcome their extended families and guests to share the joy of a new year. Religious celebrations have followed new guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among those in attendance since COVID-19 emerged.
CURRENT COVID-19 SITUATION IN MALAYSIA
Malaysia has identified a total of 439 Omicron cases to date. There were 385 imported cases and 54 locally transmitted cases. Even though the local transmission cases are minor, individuals must take precautions and comply with the government’s regulations to prevent the celebration from becoming a super-spreader event as the Omicron variant is highly infectious.
CHINESE NEW YEAR STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES (SOP)
Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sadique, Minister of National Unity, announced the standard operating procedures (SOP) for the forthcoming Chinese New Year celebrations. While open houses are not permitted, Chinese New Year house-to-house visits are allowed only by invitation. Basic SOP must be followed, such as ensuring guests register their attendance via MySejahtera, temperature checks, and ensuring attendees are fully vaccinated.
Here are some of the recommendations you can take to make your celebration merry and safe while preventing the spread of COVID-19 among family members and friends:
1. Get the booster vaccine
Individuals should take the booster vaccine when it is their time to increase their protection against the Omicron variant that is on the rise. While they do not completely prevent transmission, the COVID-19 vaccine offers a high level of protection against the risks of hospitalisation and severe illnesses from the virus.
2. Limit the number of guests in your house
Keep the number of guests to a minimum so that people from different households can practice safe social distancing. Set up chairs or tables ahead of time to know where visitors can sit and be safe.
3. Wash hands regularly and make hand sanitisers readily available
Ensure everyone regularly washes their hands with soap and set up sanitisers for the guests visiting your house. The best option is touch-free hand sanitiser dispensers, giving you even more flexibility in locating them and minimising cross-contamination. ENVIRO Group has a selection of hand sanitisers that kill 99.99% of germs, bacteria, and viruses if you contact contaminated surfaces.
4. Ensure proper ventilation and air care at your house
COVID-19 is more infectious in crowded, poorly ventilated areas where people spend a lot of time together. Maintaining good indoor air quality is essential in protecting people from COVID-19 transmission in indoor environments. Providing a proper air filtration system with maintained filters and monitoring the quality of air with an air monitoring system will ensure the safety of everyone celebrating.
5. Clean and disinfect before and after the celebration
If you are hosting a gathering this holiday season, make every effort to disinfect your common areas and touch-points before and after the event. These include door handles in the bathroom, switches, and remotes. To quickly disinfect before and after a visitor to your home, use a cordless disinfectant sprayer that is ergonomic and simple to use, such as ENVIRO’s Cordless Disinfectant Sprayer.
6. Ensure everyone tests for rapid antigen test before and after the celebration
The Minister of Health, Khairy Jamaluddin, has encouraged individuals to do rapid antigen tests before attending house gatherings to limit the risks of COVID-19 spread. Testing can provide information on the dangers of transmitting COVID-19. Encourage guests who are not members of your household to conduct a self-test before inviting them to house gatherings.
7. Cover your nose and mouth when you are sneezing, coughing, and not eating
It is crucial to cover your mouths and noses when bonding with your family members and guests before and after eating, sneezing, and coughing. Wear suitable and the recommended masks like medical grade 3 ply or KF94 mask, which will provide sufficient protection.
Celebrate carefully and safely…
Malaysians had to stay at home last year and scale back on the celebrations, but you will be able to celebrate with your families and friends this year. However, it is critical to remember always to follow the SOP provided by the government to prevent the spread of COVID-19 cases following the celebrations. You can still celebrate this holiday with your loved ones carefully and safely by following the guidance provided.
