Movement Control Order Period Research Articles

Improving patient compliance for intravitreal injections during the COVID-19 pandemic

Purpose: Intravitreal injections (IVT) of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor are standard treatment procedures in ophthalmology for many retinal diseases. We conducted a full-cycle clinical audit to evaluate patient compliance with IVT in Penang Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. Study design: Full cycle audit. Methods: A 3-month audit was carried out on patients scheduled to receive IVT in the operation theatre between August and October 2019 (COVID-19 pre-pandemic period). Patient compliance rates were calculated. We set a target of 95% patient compliance rate. Interventional steps taken to improve compliance were carried out from April 2020 to September 2021 (during the Movement Control Order period). A 3-month re-audit was conducted between October and December 2021. Results: A total of 481 patients were scheduled for IVT, and 50 patients (10.4%) did not present to the appointment. The compliance rate was 89.6%. The reasons for defaulting treatment included multiple hospital visits, transportation issues, cost of transportation, loss of daily wages, and fear of COVID-19 infection. Post-intervention, a total of 895 patients were scheduled for IVT in 3 months. Among these patients, 844 patients completed their IVT appointment, while 51 patients missed the scheduled IVT. The patients’ compliance rate also rose from 89.6% to 94.3%. There was also an increase of 87.1% in the total number of scheduled IVT as compared to the pre-intervention phase. Conclusion: These interventions not only increased the number of patients receiving treatment but also improved patients’ compliance with IVT despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients benefited from reduced hospital visits, the cost of follow-up, and the risk of hospital infection.

The Trend of Unemployment and Crime Index during COVID-19 Pandemic in Malaysia

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the number of unemployed to increase in Malaysia and the issue of unemployment has become a social problem that has always been positively linked to criminal activity. However, the crime index in Malaysia showed a decrease over the period of the Movement Control Order (MCO). This study aims to explore the issue using secondary data taken from various sources such as journals, books, proceedings, and press reports. The results of the study found that the crime index decreased even though the number of unemployed increased because it was in line with the theory of crime opportunity. As the community needs to stay at home during the MCO period, the chances of committing index crime are low because the home as well as property are monitored as well as individuals are not exposed to violent crime. However, the domino effect is non -index crime is reported to increase due to the stress of life that makes the individual is motivated to commit non-index crime. The results of the analysis of this study are expected to help the government, especially the Department of Social Welfare to be more efficient by helping and supporting the victims of non-index crime. The results of this study are also expected to provide an explanation to the community on the question of why the unemployment rate is negatively related to index crime as well as remove the negative impression of the report given by the Royal Malaysian Police (RMP). However, the results of this study are only a preliminary analysis and it is suggested that empirical studies can be conducted to support the results of this analysis.

Poor sleep quality and its associated factors among working adults during COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia.

In Malaysia, a nationwide movement control order (MCO), implemented to curb the COVID-19 spread, impacted on the lives of the working population which could impair sleep quality. This study aims to find the sleep quality status and its association with the socioeconomic, employment and lifestyle factors of working adults during the MCO period. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 500 eligible working adults. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire consisting of the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index. The proportion of poor sleep quality is found to be 59.4%. Analysis shows that the use of electronic devices before sleep (OR=2.33, 95% CI=1.02-5.35, p-value=0.046), increased amount of workload (OR=0.45, p-value=0.005), decreased in amount of workload (OR=0.48, p-value=0.003) and distracted while working (OR=0.57, p-value=0.014) are the factors significantly associated with and are predictors of poor sleep quality. During crisis, there is a need for public health interventions for the working population to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Employers are recommended to support employees' well-being and to provide a healthy workplace during challenging times. Policy recommendations are also made to implement flexible working arrangements, workload management, workplace mental health support and legal protections on reasonable working hours, rest breaks and time off during crises.

Survey on the Psychological Impact of Movement Restriction During the Covid-19 Outbreak Among UTHM Pagoh

The outbreak of Covid-19 has impacted many people around the globe with the new norm that people need to adapt, including the Movement Control Order (MCO) that the Malaysian Government imposed. As one of the students in Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), Pagoh, it is a big responsibility to hold onto to know about the students' mental health state and the psychological impacts of the MCO in Malaysia. The objectives of this study are to investigate students' current mental health state in UTHM Pagoh, identify the psychological impacts that affected the students during the MCO period, and identify the factors that can be perceived as the sources of stress towards students. A survey on the Psychological Impact of Movement Restriction during the Covid-19 Outbreak among UTHM Pagoh students was conducted via an online questionnaire. A cross-sectional, web-based survey was conducted, and the instruments consisted of three sections, i.e., demographics, Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), and Covid-19 Student Stress Questionnaire (CSSQ). The methodology started by distributing the questionnaire to all the students of UTHM Pagoh. Then, all the data were recorded and analysed by using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software. The results analysed from SPSS software were then concluded and a conclusion was made from the results obtained. Both DASS-21 and CSSQ items played essential roles in the survey questionnaires to achieve the objectives of this survey. At the end of this survey, it is found that the current mental health of the UTHM Pagoh students is mild anxiety and an average level of stress.

Stress Among the Adult Population During COVID-19 Pandemic in Kedah, Malaysia: Association Between Sociodemographics and the Movement Control Order Period.

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant increase in the prevalence of stress worldwide. However, the extent and factors associated with psychological distress during COVID-19 among the local population in Kedah, Malaysia, have not been adequately explored. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with stress among the adult population in Kedah, Malaysia, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and methods We conducted a cross-sectional study using a retrospective record review. A simple random sampling was applied among the adult population of Kedah who were screened for mental health well-being from January 2021 until March 2022. A proforma checklist that consists of sociodemographic and clinical factorsand the date of screening was used to collect the data. A descriptive and multiple logistic regression was conducted, and analysis was done by SPSS version 26 (IBM Inc., Armonk, New York). The dependent variables were the presence of stress incorporated self-reported symptoms ranging from mild to very severe. The independent variables were sociodemographic, clinical factors, and movement control order period, which refers to the period when the state of Kedah experienced all the different phases of movement control order (MCO), which were from 1 January 2021 until 28 June 2021. Results In total, 562 adults were included. The mean age was 31.75 years, and the majority were female (69.6%). The prevalence of stress was 45.7% (95% CI 41.6%, 49.8%), with a total of 257 people. The majority of them did not have stress, consisting of 305 people (54.3%), followed by 69 people (12.3%) who reported severe stress, 67 people (11.9%) who reported moderate, 66 people (11.7%) who reported mild, and 55 people (9.8%) who reported very severe stress. The significant factor associated with stress among the adult population in Kedah, Malaysia, during the COVID-19 pandemicwas the female gender (Adj OR 3.035 95% CI: 2.007 to 4.591, p-value <0.001). Being unemployed (Adj OR 2.171 95% CI: 1.480 to 3.185, p-value <0.001) and being under movement control order period was also associated with stress (Adj OR 0.383 95% CI: 0.264 to 0.555, p-value <0.001). Conclusion The prevalence of stress among the adult population during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kedah was 45.7%, with a total of 257 people, higher than other studies. Being female and unemployed wasassociated with stress, while the movement control order period was a protective factor against stress. Preventive strategies should be tailored based on the vulnerabilities of these groups, such as the development of more effective community-based interventions for safeguarding the mental health of the general public during future pandemics.

INTENTION TO USE ONLINE FOOD DELIVERY SERVICES IN INDONESIA

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Indonesians had a habit of eating outside. Then, the shopping pattern of the Indonesian people changed drastically from initially visiting physical stores (offline) to switching to an electronic system (online), especially in ordering online food delivery services during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. However, after the movement control order (MCO) ended and the Covid-19 cases disappeared, people began to leave their homes and eat in restaurants, malls, and cafes again. MCO has ended so is the demand for online food delivery services going to remain in the market or not after the pandemic? Therefore, the study aimed to examine the intention to use online food delivery services in Indonesia during the post MCO period. This study used the Theory of Planned Behavior, and the respondents for this study amounted to 250 respondents. Determination of the number of respondents was by using non-probability sampling with the purposive sampling method. Respondents in this study were people who had purchased online food delivery services at least once. The data analysis method used is the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 22.0. The results showed that attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived control positively affected intention to use online food delivery services in Indonesia during the post MCO period, which means that Indonesian people will continue using online food delivery services after the post MCO period. Based on this research, it is suggested for food and beverage business owners to pay more attention in providing the best service to consumers, because they feel that buying food through providers is excellent and valuable. Promotion or discount programs can also be one of the best service alternatives offered by food and beverage business owners so that consumers remain loyal to use online food delivery services.

Factors Influencing YouTube Technology Acceptance as a Dakwah Medium During the Movement Control Order Period: A Small Example in Pahang

Factors Influencing YouTube Technology Acceptance as a Dakwah Medium During the Movement Control Order Period: A Small Example in Pahang

The Concept of ‘Temporarily Poor’ Asnaf in Zakat Distribution During The Covid-19 Pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic or the COVID-19 virus that hit the whole country has had a great impact, especially the economic aspect. The COVID-19 virus is very dangerous and can infect humans to the point that it can cause death. The Malaysian government acted by implementing the Movement Control Order (MCO), a comprehensive ban on all Malaysian travel abroad and the entry of foreign tourists into the country. The closure of all educational institutions including primary, secondary, pre-university, and other educational institutions. The implementation of the MCO caused the collapse of the national economy. The loss experienced by the country of as much as 2.4 billion per day during the MCO period has a great impact on the people's economy. People are affected by their source of income and lose their jobs as a result of the implementation of the MCO. The number of those whose income has been affected and who have lost their jobs continues to increase, leading to an increase in the poor asnaf. This study aims to explain the meaning and concept of asnaf 'temporarily poor'. To achieve the objective, this study uses two research methods, namely library research and field research for data collection. This study will explain the parameters for determining the 'temporary poor' asnaf of the COVID-19 pandemic situation. The results of this research can be used as a reference and guide for the administration and management of zakat in Malaysia.

A study on the implementation of remote learning: Malaysian students’ struggles and suggestions for improvement

&lt;span lang="EN-US"&gt;This study seeks to explore Malaysian undergraduates’ perspectives on the implementation of remote learning in their university during the period of the movement control order (MCO). Since teaching and learning activities have been impacted by the pandemic, it is imperative to consider students’ perspectives on carrying out classes via the online platform as many studies claim that the pandemic has disrupted teaching and learning activities. A total of 1,028 undergraduate students participated in this voluntary study by answering an open-ended survey sent out to their student email addresses during the MCO period that restricted students and lecturers from going to the university. The qualitative responses from the students were critically analyzed for thematic patterns. The four themes emerging from the data provide future teaching and learning plans that should embed self-learning techniques that could aid students if a similar predicament should hit us in the future. Course instructors can use this information to design future lessons that could assist their learners better.&lt;/span&gt;

Lockdown: The Impact on Management of Glaucoma in a Suburban Tertiary Centre in Malaysia.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to a standstill in 2020. Many countries have imposed lockdowns, known as the movement-control order (MCO) in Malaysia, to prevent transmission of the disease. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of the MCO on the management of glaucoma patients in a suburban tertiary hospital. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 194 glaucoma patients between June 2020 and August 2020 in the glaucoma clinic at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia. We evaluated the patients' treatment, visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements, and potential signs of progression. We compared the results with those of their last clinic visits prior to the MCO. We studied 94 (48.5%) male and 100 (51.5%) female glaucoma patients with a mean age of 65 ± 13.7. The mean duration between pre-MCO and post-MCO follow-up was 26.4 ± 6.7 weeks. There was a significant increase in the number of patients with deterioration of visual acuity, and one patient lost his vision after the MCO. There was also a significant elevation of the mean IOP of the right eye: pre-MCO, 16.7 ± 7.8 mmHg, compared to post-MCO, 17.7 ± 8.8 mmHg (p = 0.027). The cup-to-disc ratio (CDR) for the right eye increased significantly from pre-MCO, 0.72 ± 0.18, to 0.74 ± 0.19 post-MCO (p < 0.001). However, there were no significant changes in IOP or CDR in the left eye. Twenty-four patients (12.4%) missed medications during the MCO period, and 35 patients (18%) required additional topical medications due to the progression of the disease. Only one patient (0.5%) required admission due to uncontrolled IOP. Lockdown, as a preventive step in the COVID-19 pandemic, indirectly caused the progression of glaucoma and uncontrolled IOP.

The Effectiveness of Online Learning during the Covid-19 Pandemic in Malaysia

The Movement Control Order (MCO) was implemented in Malaysia on 18 March 2020. The MCO has changed people’s lifestyle to some extent because they have been advised to work from home. Due to this situation, the Malaysian Ministry of Education (MOE) implemented online learning methods throughout the MCO period to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus. Therefore, all schools have implemented online teaching and learning with the instructions of the MOE as a new norm to ensure that learning sessions are not delayed. The purpose of this study was to determine the level and factors of effectiveness of online learning for secondary school students studying economics subjects during the Covid-19 pandemic. This study used a quantitative research design employing a questionnaire as data collection instrument. The results show that the effectiveness of online learning for economics students is at a high level. The results of the survey illustrate that most students use mobile phones and laptops to attend classes that take place online. Furthermore, the study found that teacher factors are the main factors that influence the effectiveness of online learning among students. This research has implications for educators to apply online learning methods as a new normative teaching method to ensure compliance with the National Education Philosophy and the objectives of the Malaysia Education Development Plan 2013–2025.

Influence of Physical Activity on Mental Health Among Undergraduate Students in International Islamic University Malaysia Kuantan Campus After Movement Control Order Period.

Introduction: Declaration of movement control order (MCO) during pandemic of COVID-19 has inflicted challenges in maintaining mental health of world population, including university students. Being inactive is among the reasons for mental disturbance among university students during the MCO period. Physically active has been demonstrated as a coping mechanism to improve mental health. The lifting of MCO supposed to recover the mental health status among the university students as they can return to have an active life. However, the status of mental health and level of physical activity among university students after the MCO period is not well reported.&#x0D; Objective: This study aimed to identify the mental health status and level of physical activity among undergraduate students in International Islamic University Malaysia Kuantan Campus and the association between these parameters.&#x0D; Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 243 undergraduate students in International Islamic University Malaysia Kuantan Campus who were recruited using stratified random sampling. The questionnaires used to collect data consisted of three parts which were socio-demographical data, DASS-21 questionnaire and IPAQ-SF questionnaire. The data on socio-demographical characteristics were presented in frequency and percentage. The mental health status and level of physical activity were identified by determining the mean score of each parameter. The association between parameters were analysed using Chi-square test.&#x0D; Results: The study found that most respondents have normal level of depression (55.1%), anxiety (42.8%) and stress (65.4%). Most respondents also practiced vigorous physical activity (47.3%). However, no significant association were found between depression, anxiety, stress and physical activity that may be due to inadequate sample size.&#x0D; Conclusion: The study found that mental health status among undergraduate students in International Islamic University Malaysia Kuantan Campus after MCO period was at normal level and living in active lifestyle, though no significant association were found between these parameters.

Sustainability of Stock Market Against COVID-19 Pandemic

This study explored the sustainability of the stock market against the COVID-19 pandemic. The impacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases, COVID-19 deaths, and Movement Control Order (MCO) length on the stock market were examined. The Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimator was employed to analyze 57 countries’ weekly data from November 4th 2019 to July 5th 2020. The findings showed that the growth in confirmed COVID-19 cases has a significant negative effect on stock market returns, while the growth in COVID-19 deaths has a negative yet statistically insignificant influence on stock market returns. This study also found a non-linear inverted U-shaped relationship between the MCO period and stock market returns, implying that though the MCO has initial positive influences on the stock market, it negatively impacts the stock market after 5.7 weeks. Thus, this study argues that policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic provide the most compelling explanation for its unprecedented impact on the sustainability of the stock market. Governments should therefore implement a partial lockdown to avoid deterioration of the national economy. Furthermore, government policies and plans to control the COVID-19 epidemic as well as economic stimulus packages to kickstart the economy play crucial roles in boosting economic growth and revitalizing the stock market

Impact of National Movement Control Orders toward Ground Level Ozone Concentrations in Shah Alam

Malaysia is currently facing the COVID-19 pandemic which has claimed hundreds of innocent lives. Because of the health problems impose by the pandemic, the government has ordered to implement the movement control order (MCO) starting March 18, 2020. With this movement control order in place, people are not allowed to leave the house. Therefore, movement on the road can also be reduced. This study was conducted to investigate the emission concentrations of ground-level ozone into the air during MCOs in an urbanized area of Shah Alam. This secondary data of ground-level ozone (O3) was acquired from the Department of Environment in 2020 and interpreted using the methods of box and whisker plot, time series analysis, and diurnal variation plot. The results found that the concentrations of air pollutants in each type of MCOs implemented were different in terms of trends. During the early implementations of MCOs, results showed that there was a slight decrement in O3 concentrations and as MCOs periods continued, there higher decrements in O3 concentrations were observed. During the MCOs period, non-exceedance episodes were recorded which show the level of ground-level ozone was significantly improved result of the implementation of MCOs. Results also suggested there is a shift in the peak concentration time as the plot showed peak concentrations were reached between 4 to 6 p.m. which is quite later as normally peaks O3 concentrations were reported normally reached from 12 noon to 2 p.m. [13]

Impact of COVID-19 and government interventions on Bursa Malaysia sectors

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of the daily growth in confirmed COVID-19 cases in Malaysia and government interventions on the daily returns of financial times stock exchange Bursa Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (FBMKLCI) and eight selected Bursa Malaysia sectorial indices for the period January 29, 2020 to March 31, 2021. Design/methodology/approach This paper adopts the multivariate generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity model to determine the effects for the entire study period and four sub-periods, i.e. pre-government intervention, movement control order (MCO), conditional MCO (CMCO) and recovery MCO phases. Findings This paper finds no evidence of the effect of the daily growth in confirmed COVID-19 cases on the returns of FBMKLCI and eight Bursa Malaysia sectorial indices for the full study period. However, the former has exerted different effects over the four sub-periods. Sectors that are positively affected for the MCO period are financial services and real estate investment trust. Yet, these sectors are negatively affected for the CMCO period along with the industrial products and services and technology sectors. Sectors that consistently demonstrate statistically insignificant results are construction, energy, plantation and utilities. Originality/value This study makes an initial attempt to investigate the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the returns of Bursa Malaysia sectorial indices over different phases of government interventions in Malaysia.

COVID-19 Restriction Movement Control Order (MCO) Impacted Emissions of Peninsular Malaysia Using Sentinel-2a and Sentinel-5p Satellite.

The unprecedented outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has impacted the whole world in every aspect including health, social life, economic activity, education, and the environment. The pandemic has led to an improvement in air quality all around the world, including in Malaysia. Lockdowns have resulted in industry shutting down and road travel decreasing which can reduce the emission of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) and air pollution. This research assesses the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on emissions using the Air Pollution Index (API), aerosols, and GHG which is Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) in Malaysia. The data used is from Sentinel-5p and Sentinel-2A which monitor the air quality based on Ozone (O3) and NO2 concentration. Using an interpolated API Index Map comparing 2019, before the implementation of a Movement Control Order (MCO), and 2020, after the MCO period we examine the impact on pollution during and after the COVID-19 lockdown. Data used Sentinel-5p, Sentinel-2A, and Air Pollution Index of Malaysia (APIMS) to monitor the air quality that contains NO2 concentration. The result has shown the recovery in air quality during the MCO implementation which indirectly shows anthropogenic activities towards the environmental condition. The study will help to enhance and support the policy and scope for air pollution management strategies as well as raise public awareness of the main causes that contribute to air pollution.

Consequences of risk factors related to prolonged computer use on musculaokeletal pain in public unversity students: A case study

The Malaysian government formally enforces study, worship, and online learning rules during the movement control order period. Learning activities that used to be carried out face-to-face have now been changed mainly into virtual meetings. These conditions affect the effectiveness of the student's well-being and learning process in higher education. This study aims to determine the problems and risk factors of continuous computer use on a person's musculoskeletal system. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 60 volunteers from a public university student body in Pahang. Data were collected using a structured socio-demographic, work-related factors questionnaire and the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) for MSD assessment. Each student's severity of MSD symptoms was assessed by a visual analogue scale (VAS). Robust Poisson regression was used to investigate the association of MSDs with socio-demographic and other study-related factors. More than 60% of students experienced symptoms of musculoskeletal problems in the neck, shoulder, upper back, and lower back. This study found that gender and not taking a break from electronic devices lead to musculoskeletal discomfort among students. In addition, this result shows that revision activity leads to musculoskeletal discomfort in the neck and low back among students. Moreover, class attendance led to musculoskeletal discomfort in the lower back. These findings provide awareness regarding musculoskeletal discomfort risk factors among students in university institutions.

Pengaruh Pendapatan Terhadap Penglibatan Muslim Dalam Filantropi Ketika Kesukaran Pandemik COVID-19 Income Factors in Influencing Muslim Philanthropic Behavior During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic that hit the country had a huge impact, especially on the economic sector. The movement control order (MCO) approach taken by the government to control the spread of epidemic infections indirectly impacts household income. However, some of the communities that are not affected in terms of income have the opportunity to be involved in charity to help those affected. Thus, this study aimed to examine the influence of income on Muslim involvement in philanthropy during the COVID-19 pandemic. To achieve this goal, 424 respondents responded to the questionnaires distributed during the MCO period as a time limit through a simple sampling method. The study's results found that the income factor has a significant positive relationship based on the correlation value of r = 0.285 on the level of Muslim philanthropy involvement during the MCO period. The ANOVA test found significant differences based on the income level of Muslim philanthropic behavior among the respondents. These findings also prove that income influences the decision-making process to donate among Muslims. Therefore, all parties need to create awareness of the importance of philanthropic practices so that the burden borne by the community affected by the COVID-19 pandemic can be alleviated.

Pengaruh Pendapatan Terhadap Penglibatan Muslim Dalam Filantropi Ketika Kesukaran Pandemik COVID-19 Income Factors in Influencing Muslim Philanthropic Behavior During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic that hit the country had a huge impact, especially on the economic sector. The movement control order (MCO) approach taken by the government to control the spread of epidemic infections indirectly impacts household income. However, some of the communities that are not affected in terms of income have the opportunity to be involved in charity to help those affected. Thus, this study aimed to examine the influence of income on Muslim involvement in philanthropy during the COVID-19 pandemic. To achieve this goal, 424 respondents responded to the questionnaires distributed during the MCO period as a time limit through a simple sampling method. The study's results found that the income factor has a significant positive relationship based on the correlation value of r = 0.285 on the level of Muslim philanthropy involvement during the MCO period. The ANOVA test found significant differences based on the income level of Muslim philanthropic behavior among the respondents. These findings also prove that income influences the decision-making process to donate among Muslims. Therefore, all parties need to create awareness of the importance of philanthropic practices so that the burden borne by the community affected by the COVID-19 pandemic can be alleviated.

Media exposure, attitude, anxiety and practices among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which originated from China, went global within weeks. At the time of writing, almost 300 million people around the world have been infected by this potent and fast-spreading disease, which in many cases has paralysed economies and normal daily activities. University students are among the people that have been badly affected by the pandemic, as the movement control order (MCO) has resulted in university closure. Hence, many students are unable to proceed with their regular studies and have to be extra vigilant in dealing with the pandemic. During the MCO period, they rely heavily on media for guidance and information. This study was conducted to examine media exposure, attitude, anxiety, and practices towards COVID-19 amongst the students of Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Perak, Malaysia. A quantitative research design was used to achieve the research objective. A total of 505 respondents answered an online survey and the findings revealed that respondents were highly dependent on various media for updated information about the pandemic, with the majority of them anxious about their safety. These findings are useful for higher education institutions in developing a better learning environment for students and understand the impact of the pandemic on students.