Surge in Covid-19 category 1, 2 expected after Raya

PUTRAJAYA: The health ministry expects a surge in Covid-19 cases after the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations.

However, the majority of cases are expected to be in categories one and two, health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said.

He said this is base on the trend for Covid-19 cases over the past two months.

Even positive case admissions to hospitals and intensive care units (ICUs), as well as the use of ventilators, and the number of deaths have been on the decline, he added.

Noor Hisham added deaths due to Covid-19 in 2020 and the first six months of 2021 were low and detected a surge in excess mortality in July and August last year.

“However, the excess mortality was successfully brought down in August and the following month with vaccination coverage among the adult population exceeding 99%, adolescents at 92%, and booster doses approaching 70%.

“This gives us the confidence to open up all sectors and return to the seemingly pre-pandemic period but the fight is not over," he said after spending time with healthcare staff at Hospital Putrajaya who were working on the first day of Raya.

He said the ministry is still using four methods in dealing with Covid-19 which are vaccination coverage, antiviral drugs, maintaining the use of face masks in confined places and encouraging self-tests if there are symptoms.

Noor Hisham saspoke to the media after spending time with healthcare staff at Hospital Putrajaya who were on duty on the first day of Syawal here today.

Noor Hisham said 1,503 positive cases were recorded yesterday and this was a positive development due to the vaccination coverage, providing herd immunity to the community.

“The ministry hopes that this trend will continue so that we can cope well with Covid-19 and live with the virus in its transition to the endemic stage.

“If we work together and take responsibility by exercising self-control, we will be able to curb the spread.

“Thus far, after the reopening of the country’s borders on April 1, the ministry had expected the number of cases to increase but it has instead been on the decline.

“This shows that there is herd immunity resistance through the vaccine and those who are infected and recovered have natural immunity.

“This will help the ministry control and curb the spread of Covid-19 infection in the country,” he said.

Noor Hisham said healthcare workers’ leave was not frozen this year so that they could celebrate Aidilfitri as the Covid-19 situation in the country was under control.

It also provided an opportunity for self-reflection and for health services’ preparedness to be enhanced in the event of a surge in Covid-19 cases. - Bernama