KUALA LUMPUR: The number of Covid-19 cases reported during the 17th epidemiological week (ME17) of April 23-29 increased by 3% from 4,817 cases the previous week to 4,963.
Health director-general Datuk Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan said in a statement on Friday (May 5) that based on the data from the Health Ministry's Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC), the number of Covid-19 admissions to public health facilities also increased from 4.8% per 100,000 population during the previous week to 5.8%.
"Category 1 and 2 patients increased from 1.4% to 1.8%, while Category 3, 4 and 5 patients increased from 1.3% to 2.0%," he said, adding that bed usage in Covid-19 facilities increased by 3% for non-critical and intensive care unit (ICU) patients, while the number of patients requiring ventilators increased by 0.2% week-on-week.
He said most patients admitted to the hospital were from the high-risk group such as individuals with comorbidities and the elderly, but this did not burden health services and hospitals were operating as usual.
According to him, the Covid-19 situation in Malaysia is still under control and health services and hospital capacity are not affected.
The ministry projected a slight increase in cases following travel and gatherings during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri break and other holidays, and advised the people to mask up if they have symptoms to protect their families, neighbours, and friends from infection.
Students, teachers and school personnel are also urged to practise the prescribed standard operating procedure to curb infections. – Bernama
