![]() These preventive directives were widely promoted as they were reported to be effective in curbing the infection. The public had to adapt to the new normal including mandatory wearing of face masks at public areas, practice physical distancing, frequent hand-washing and restrictions on mass gatherings. To date, Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) was reinforced in targeted areas with high number of COVID-19 cases. To contain the virus transmission, the Malaysian government implemented the Movement Control Order (MCO) on 18 March 2020. The number of positive cases passed the 500 mark on 16 March 2020. In Malaysia, the first case of COVID-19 was reported on 25 January 2020. ![]() While COVID-19 has influenza-like symptoms, previous reports suggested it had caused higher rate of transmission, hospitalization and fatality than influenza. The COVID-19 virus is known to be transmitted through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, talks, or breathes. Until 15 November 2020, there were cumulatively 53.7 million confirmed cases and 1.3 million deaths reported to the WHO. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) in March 2020. Knowledge on antibiotics use and resistance was poor, which warrants attention from the health authorities. The Malaysian public demonstrated good knowledge towards COVID-19, adequate practice of preventive measures and high acceptance towards the new norm. Respondents of Chinese ethnicity ( p = 0.008), middle-aged ( p = 0.002), with tertiary education ( p = 0.015) and healthcare related education ( p < 0.001), from the higher income groups ( p = 0.001) were more likely to have better knowledge on COVID-19. Majority of the respondents strongly agreed that quarantine should be made mandatory for all arrival from overseas (97.2%) and wearing face masks should be made mandatory in all public areas (94.0%). Majority (92.3%) practiced good preventive measures. Less than half of the respondents (49.0%) knew that antibiotics are effective against bacterial infection only. ![]() ![]() In term of antibiotics knowledge, 779 (36.8%) respondents were aware that taking antibiotics could not speed up the recovery process of all infections. Out of 2117 respondents, 1405 (66.4%) knew that transmission of COVID-19 virus could happen in asymptomatic people. The web-based questionnaire was disseminated online from 1 to 31 October 2020. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of the Malaysian public on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and antibiotics, the practice of preventive measures and attitude towards the new norms. ![]()
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