Covid-19: KL has country’s highest incidence rate following emergence of Delta variant, says Health DG

Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah. -Bernama filepic

PUTRAJAYA: Kuala Lumpur has the country’s highest Covid-19 incidence rate, with the federal territory recording 105.7 cases per 100,000 population between July 31 and Aug 6.

Selangor is second highest with 101.5 cases per 100,000 population, followed by Putrajaya with 75.6 cases per 100,000 population.

Negri Sembilan’s incidence rate is 71.7 cases per 100,000 population, Melaka’s is 53.8 cases per 100,000 population while Kedah’s is 51.8 per 100,000 population.

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the increase in Covid-19 cases in Malaysia is in tandem with the global pandemic situation.

“The increase in daily cases shows that Covid-19 has spread within our community. The number of Covid-19 clusters has increased from 286 clusters (June 23-July 6) to 346 (July 7-July 20). From July 21 to Aug 1, there are 401 clusters.

“The number of workplace-related outbreaks as well as community clusters have also gone up,” said Dr Noor Hisham in his daily Covid-19 statement on Friday (Aug 6).

Dr Noor Hisham said the public have also developed a higher awareness towards the importance of close contact screening - which led to the detection of more Covid-19 cases.

“More people go out to conduct their own Covid-19 tests after they develop symptoms or realise they are close contacts.

“It is found that 70% of RTK-Antigen tests are conducted by private agencies,” said Dr Noor Hisham.

He added the emergence of the Delta variant is also a factor to the increase in Covid-19 cases.

“To date, a total of 199 Delta variant cases have been detected in the community. The variant is not only more transmissible and aggressive, but it is also less responsive to treatment.

“Therefore, the public must continue practising preventive measures and also get protection from Covid-19 vaccines.

“It is projected that cases will start going down at the end of August when more than 40% of the Malaysian population are fully vaccinated,” said Dr Noor Hisham.