Covid-19: Recoveries outnumber new infections on Thursday (Oct 14)

PETALING JAYA: The country recorded 12,456 new recoveries on Thursday (Oct 14), extending the trend of recoveries exceeding new infections.

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, in his daily statement, said that 1.6% of the recorded 8,084 new infections were from categories three, four and five cases.

Seventeen new clusters were reported in Johor, Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Penang, Selangor, Melaka, Perak, and Kelantan. Nine are workplace clusters.

Putrajaya and Negri Sembilan meanwhile recorded a rate of infectivity (R0) of 1.07 and 1.03 respectively. The country's R0 value is currently at 0.88.

The R0 of a virus is a measure of its transmission, or number of new infections generated by each case.

"With the country moving towards the endemic phase, the Health Ministry is currently improving the level of Covid-19 Clinical Assessment Centres (CAC). The upgrades will encompass several new functions, which will be implemented in stages," he said.

Firstly, case management at primary healthcare facilities will be improved, with Dr Noor Hisham adding that infection control is important in preventing cross infections.

Case management by CACs operated by private sector medical practitioners (CAC GPs) will also be improved.

"Up until Oct 9, 19,732 cases had been identified by CAC GPs. Nationwide, there are currently 1,149 CAC GPs with 81 actively providing case management services for those undergoing home isolation," he said.

The Health Ministry has also approved of privately operated CACs.

"These CACs are an alternative to category one and two patients. A guideline has been prepared as a reference for parties interested in offering such services," he said.

The virtual CAC will also be expanded, and a robocall service will aid those who have symptoms.

"Individuals with symptoms, especially warning signs such as fevers, difficulty in breathing, extended lethargy and chest pains, will receive automated SMS and robocall recordings to urge them to report themselves to their nearest healthcare facility for further assessments.

"Those who have reported two or more warning signs will receive a call from the Virtual CAC Outbound Team to confirm their conditions, and to provide ambulance services if required," he said.