TRENDS from leading immunised countries are showing a rise in Covid-19 cases but a decline in hospitalisations and deaths. The UK, where the two-doses vaccination rate has crossed the 51% mark, is now seeing daily cases ballooning from 7,300 a month ago to 35,000 but hospitalisation remains at a low of not more than 400 cases. The last time cases were that high was January 2021 when hospitalisations were in the 3,700s. That is a 90% drop – surely relief for frontliners.
There is a likelihood, given the sporadic nature of our transmissions, that cases will remain high in Malaysia but we can be hopeful that the high vaccination rate will lower hospitalisation and death rates, alleviating pressure on the country’s healthcare and budgetary resources. This is also where we should do some rethinking about the National Recovery Plan, perhaps.