MUAR – The government will evaluate and refine existing strategies in the fight against Covid-19 to determine if they are still effective in tackling the surge in daily cases, which have now breached the 20,000 mark.
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in expressing his concern over the increase in cases said the matter will be discussed at the special session of the National Security Council, which he will chair, this Monday.
“We will discuss again this Monday... especially the badly affected areas in the Greater Klang Valley, which covers the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, as well as several other states that have recorded increases.
“We will look into details as to why this (increase) is happening. We will evaluate whether the measures taken are no longer effective... and whether we need to improve screening and testing and conduct more contact tracing,” he told reporters when met at the Sg Raya sub-district administration office in Bukit Pasir here today.
“In addition, we will also look into challenges and internal problems faced by the Health Ministry (MoH), including the issue of needing manpower, medicines, and equipment such as oxygen tanks.
“So there are several specific issues to be looked into, but I wish to inform you that I have given full authority to the MoH, especially the committees involved, to do the necessary in certain matters without having to refer to me.
“And it is up to them to decide even if it involves expenses, because a big portion of the budget has been allocated to the MoH and Greater Klang Valley Special Committee... the budget can be used. I don’t think there is a problem,” he said.
Muhyiddin, who is also Pagoh MP, said based on MoH data, most of the Covid-19 cases are in Categories 1 and 2 while only 1.2% fall under the more severe Categories 3, 4 and 5.
However, he said the important thing is to ensure that existing hospitals are able to provide intensive care units and other facilities to accommodate the increasing number of cases.
Yesterday, Malaysia recorded 20,596 fresh Covid-19 infections, with Selangor registering the highest caseload at 8,549, followed by Kuala Lumpur with 2,163 and Kedah with 1,446. – Bernama, August 6, 2021
