BREAKING NEWS: COVID-19

Living in a state of uncertainties, are what we are right now.

As of 21 March, according to the data from Worldometer, a total of 286,667 cases of Corona Virus or Covid-19 with 11,888 deaths have been recorded worldwide. It is terrifying for all of us, especially with the announcement of Restricted Movement Order (RMO) from the government last Tuesday, portraying the seriousness of this pandemic outbreak at Malaysia currently.

Believed to be originated from a ‘wet market’ in the city of Wuhan, China, Covid-19; a new strain that was discovered in 2019 and has not been previously identified in humans before, is one of the large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). It also belongs to the zoonotic type of viruses, which means they are transmitted between animals and people and in this outbreak, the host is identified to be bats which are also host to other types of viruses such as HIV, Ebola and rabies.

If we were to compare Covid-19 with SARS outbreak in 2003 that affected 26 countries and resulted in more than 8000 cases, it took six months for the latter cases to exceed 5,000 in mainland China while COVID-19 did that in just one month! However, if there are one thing that is good about this pandemic, it would be the fact that it is less deadly that SARS and MERS but on the other hand, its higher transmissibility or infection rate makes it more difficult to control. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about one in six people who have been infected with Covid-19 will become seriously ill. The elderly and people with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, or chronic respiratory conditions, are at a greater risk of serious illness from this dangerous virus.

Covid-19 spreads from one person to another pretty much the same way as our usual flu or the common cold, which is through the large droplets produced by coughs and sneezes. Germs can live on surfaces for several hours thus, having close contact with a virus carrier within 2 meters for 15 minutes will do the task of infecting the surrounding persons. Therefore, regular hand washing is considered the most important precaution to reduce the chances of contamination from the virus lingering on surfaces. About 80% of people who get Covid-19 experience most common symptoms of Covid-19 such as fever, tiredness and a dry cough and recover without needing any special treatment. However, some patients have runny nose, sore throat, nasal congestion and aches and pains or diarrhoea which indicates the fact that this viral pneumonia recovery depends highly on the strength of the immune system.

All in all, following the recent RMO commencement, all of us should do what we need to do to lend our hands in curbing this virus from infecting even more people. With 8 deaths recorded in Malaysia as of today, scary is just among many words to describe this world’s pandemic. But, do not despair and never lose hope for the Prophet PBUH from Abu Darda’ RA said, that means;

“Allah has sent down both the disease and the cure, and He has appointed a cure for every disease, so treat yourselves medically, but use nothing unlawful.” 

Every human will not be free from being tested, in which the tests may come in the form of sickness, poverty, death and others to differentiate those who are good but, according to each individual’s capabilities. That being said, only He knows the best for us, so together let’s pray only the best for the world

LATEST STATEMENT FROM RECTOR'S OFFICE

IIUM ACTIONS

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Announcement

Dear Undergraduate Students

Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences

Please be informed that due to the extension of the Movement Control Order (MCO), our face-to-face counter service is temporarily hold until further announcement. Should you have any of the following enquiry, kindly email the following staff:

Type of enquiry

1. Study Plan --> email: rafidahmd@iium.edu.my

2. Termination, Dismissal and Extension of Study Period --> email: rafidahmd@iium.edu.my

3. Certification letter for visa renewal and general purposes

Final Examination timetable --> email: syamsul@iium.edu.my

4. Change of Programme (inter department and intra kulliyyah) --> email: kuluqman@iium.edu.my

5. Appeals: Resit/Special Exam, Rechecking --> snazri@iium.edu.my

6. Transfer of Credit and Exemption --> email: liyana_ismail@iium.edu.my

Your cooperation is greatly appreciated, thank you.

Office of Deputy Dean (Academic & Industrial Linkages)

Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge & Human Sciences

11th May 2020