KUALA LUMPUR – The Klang Valley looks set to enter Phase 2 of the National Recovery Plan (NRP), based on the sizeable decline in its Covid-19 caseload over the last two days.
On Monday and yesterday, the daily case numbers in Selangor were within the 2,000 mark, half the average of 4,000 infections recorded in previous weeks.
Also, 97.1% of the Klang Valley’s adult population – over 5.9 million people – is fully vaccinated, while 6,943,874 have received at least one dose, according to Covid-19 Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee Special Committee data.
While a specific date has yet to be fixed for the move to Phase 2, Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah has hinted that an announcement may be around the corner.
He told The Vibes that the dip in Selangor’s coronavirus infections was expected and in line with the Health Ministry’s forecast.
Laporan kumulatif vaksinasi mengikut negeri setakat 6 September 2021.#LindungDiriLindungSemua pic.twitter.com/MPolFmAbrs
— Vaksin COVID-19 ?? (@JKJAVMY) September 7, 2021
He indicated that the decline is due to the high vaccination rate in Selangor, as well as the Klang Valley as a whole.
Dr Noor Hisham added, however, that the decision on moving into Phase 2 will not be made by the ministry.
“The National Security Council will decide,” he said in a brief message to The Vibes.
In another sign that the Klang Valley may soon enter Phase 2, Health Deputy Director-General Dr Chong Chee Kheong told Code Blue that the Greater Klang Valley Special Task Force (GKVSTF) is expected to disband as early as next week in view of the dwindling infections.
He told the health news site that a request for the September 15 dissolution of the task force has been submitted to Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
“GKVSTF was set up to tackle the burden of surging Covid-19 cases on the health system in the Greater Klang Valley. We managed to increase bed capacity, which includes not only beds, but also oxygen, related equipment, and manpower.
“At the same time, we managed to reduce the crowds at Covid-19 assessment centres (CACs) by setting up the virtual CAC and enhancing the role of community leaders.”
With the stress on the healthcare system reduced, he said, the next step is to normalise services at hospitals.
“As such, we have submitted to the health minister a request for the dissolution of the task force, as the mandate of the task force was from the former prime minister through the health minister.”
Yet another indication came yesterday, when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that cinemas and live shows will be allowed to resume in Phase 1 states tomorrow, subject to the standard operating procedures.
Dr Sanjay Rampal, an epidemiologist from Universiti Malaya, told The Vibes that the Klang Valley has been under Phase 1 for 14 weeks, and it has proven to be “very challenging” to balance health and the economy.
“It is time for a transition into the next phases of NRP. Our current policies are not sustainable for the long term; the virus appears to be here to stay. The nation must learn to live with the virus in a sustainable manner.
“It is also time to end the movement restrictions currently in place. These restrictions are very costly. They should be used at high intensity for only short periods, during which longer-term public health measures are developed and implemented.”
It is more cost-effective for the government to channel funds towards augmenting the public health system than continuing these restrictions, he said.
Consultant paediatrician Datuk Dr Amar-Singh HSS said key public health mitigation measures are needed even though the jab rate is high, as the government looks to declare the endemic phase of Covid-19 by end-October.
“The country needs to have 90% of the community vaccinated to move to the endemic phase.” – The Vibes, September 8, 2021
