PETALING JAYA: Malaysia, which has been recording about 1,000 new Covid-19 cases every day this month, should consider mitigation efforts rather than containment strategies before Covid-19 treatment beds become fully utilised, say health experts.Universiti Malaya epidemiologist Prof Datuk Dr Awang Bulgiba Awang Mahmud said it was only a matter of time before all Covid-19 dedicated beds were used up if there were 20,233 active cases (as of Dec 27) and 25,456 beds.
Keeping a close eye: Foreign workers waiting to be given a swab test at the Pasar Borong Meru in Klang. KAMARUL ARIFFIN/The Star
PETALING JAYA: The UK variant of the Covid-19 virus is transmitted in the same way as the other variants and keeping strictly to the current SOP should suffice, say public health medicine specialists.
Assoc Prof Dr Mohammad Farhan Rusli from International Islamic University of Malaysia likened the UK variant to the thousands of mutations in the influenza virus and said the priority should be to stop an outbreak if it does arrive on Malaysian shores.
He said the UK variant had been found to have nearly two dozen mutations which were worrying as it might occur on the proteins that the virus uses to attach itself and infect cells.
Monday, 21 Dec 2020 07:46 PM MYT
BY R. LOHESWAR
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KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 21 The Covid-19 situation in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Putrajaya is under control despite the daily high infection rates, Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah assured residents in the central region today.
He said the current high cases were well within the Health Ministry’s expectations after the third wave broke out in Sabah back in September.
He was responding to Malaysian Public Health Physicians Association president Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar who suggested that the Klang Valley could turn into the next Sabah if the daily new cases maintained its current trajectory.
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