PUTRAJAYA – The new hybrid Covid-19 variant, which has characteristics of the Indian and United Kingdom (UK) variants, found in Vietnam has not been detected in other countries, including Malaysia, said Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.
He said as such, the Health Ministry has stepped up Covid-19 screening, especially for individuals who arrived from countries with variants of concern (VOCs), to contain the entry of the hybrid variant.
“The hybrid variant of the Indian and UK variants has been reported in Vietnam, but not in other countries (including Malaysia).
“As such, we have tightened border control and screening to stop the entry of this new variant into the country.”
Yesterday, local media reported that Vietnamese authorities have detected a new variant of Covid-19 – a hybrid of the Indian and UK variants that spreads quickly by air.
Vietnam Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long said the hybrid is even more dangerous.
Meanwhile, Dr Noor Hisham said the stay-at-home and vaccination strategies being implemented nationwide will help beat the coronavirus curve in the next three to four months.
“We need to adopt a new culture of staying at home and increase vaccination to ensure the transmission of Covid-19 is halted.”
The Vibes had reported him as saying that the Health Ministry has projected some 13,000 Covid-19 cases a day by June 14 if a full lockdown is not implemented. – Bernama, May 30, 2021
