DG: We’ve gotten a grip on the outbreak

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia may seem to gave a gotten a grip on the Covid-19 outbreak but the Health Ministry has warned complacency could bring about a new wave of infections.

Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said it was important for Malaysians to remain steadfast and ensure the success of the remaining phases of the enhanced movement control order (MCO).

“If we look at our data, we had 217 new cases on April 3. That was the highest daily rise we had ever since. We expected cases to peak on April 14, so much so that the prediction was there would be 6,300 cases in the country.

“But we did not see that peak, which means in the first two phases, we have successfully flattened the peak. The peak is behind us.

“What we are going through now is a recovery phase. We hope we can continue this momentum and keep our cases under control, ” said Dr Noor Hisham at the ministry’s daily Covid-19 press conference here.

However, he added that it is not impossible for an exponential surge in cases to happen if Malaysians let their guard down.

“It is important for us to continue doing what we managed to achieve in Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the MCO, ” he said.

Dr Noor Hisham also said the move by the government to extend the MCO by another two weeks is very welcomed.

“This move will provide the government with further opportunity to prevent and control the spread of Covid-19 infection more aggressively, prior to a re-evaluation of the effectiveness and current Covid-19 situation in the country.

“The ministry will continue all measures, as well as intensify efforts to further reduce the number of cases through a targeted approach.

“Such measures can be implemented more effectively under the MCO as well as the enhanced MCO, ” he said.

Dr Noor Hisham also added the arrival of eight medical professionals from China has helped Malaysia to plan its Covid-19 management better.

“Covid-19 is a new coronavirus, so we do not have the experience in dealing with it, ” he said.

“China is at least two months ahead of us. We have certainly learnt a lot from them. Our action plan and policy are quite in line with what they have done.”

Earlier, Dr Noor Hisham announced that Malaysia has 88 new Covid-19 cases, bringing the total number of Covid-19 infections in the country to 5,691.

He also said the country has discharged 121 more patients in the same 24-hour span, which means 3,663 patients have recovered from Covid-19 in Malaysia since the outbreak began.

Malaysia’s Covid-19 recovery rate is now at 64.36% out of the total number of positive cases.

There are only 1,932 active cases being treated at the country’s health facilities at present.

There are currently 41 patients being treated at intensive care units (ICU) with 18 on ventilator support.

Dr Noor Hisham also announced one new Covid-19 fatality in the country, taking Malaysia’s death toll to 96.

On the new death case, he said the 96th fatality is a 61-year-old Malaysian man who has a history of high blood pressure, diabetes and kidney problems.

The man was a close contact of a Covid-19 patient 1,345 who had a travel history to Indonesia.

He had been receiving treatment at the Sungai Buloh Hospital since March 31and passed away at 2.29am on April 24.