KOTA BARU – Kelantan today recorded the highest Covid-19 infectivity rate (Rt), or R-nought (R0), in the country with 1.32, compared with the national rate of 1.19.
Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob said that this follows a drastic surge in Covid-19 cases, forcing the implementation of the movement control order (MCO) in seven districts in the state from last Friday until April 29.
To date, he said that the results of tests on 2,627 Covid-19 samples have yet to be obtained and, even more worryingly, the use of beds at hospitals and Covid-19 Quarantine and Low Risk Treatment Centres (PKRC) is increasing.
“A total of 23% of cases detected did not involve close contacts, and this indicates that infections in the community is very high.
“Schools in MCO areas have been ordered to close, as 30% of infections involve staff at schools. As such, several measures will be taken to overcome the proliferation of Covid-19 at work places, schools, mosques and communities,” he said in a statement today.
Ahmad said the state government is also urging Muslims to hold the solat hajat (prayer of need) in mosques and at home for containment of the Covid-19 virus.
He said Muslims are also urged to increase their reading of the Quran, and to give alms.
“Hopefully, the pandemic can be curbed by practicing taqarrub (acts that bring Muslims closer to Allah) and the blessings of Ramadan,” he said.
Yesterday, Kelantan recorded 225 new cases with 28 active clusters.
Earlier, the Kelantan Education Department directed all schools and educational institutions in the seven districts placed under MCO to be closed from today until April 24. – Bernama, April 18, 2021
