KUALA LUMPUR – A study has highlighted data that reveals Malaysia as having the highest percentage of Covid-19 infection among the population compared with its neighbours in the region.
The report, published by the office of opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, shows Malaysia as having 1.19% of its population infected as of April 21.
Meanwhile, Singapore recorded 1.07% of its population being infected, the Philippines (0.88%), South Korea (0.22%), Indonesia (0.6%), Thailand (0.06%), Japan (0.43%) and Vietnam (none).
“The risk level, measured by the percentage of the population infected, for Malaysia is rising the fastest among the countries selected,” said the report.
The study urgently recommended that the percentage of people infected in the country be monitored closely as a measure to reduce risk.
“For Malaysia, the figure currently is 1.19%, which should raise some concern.”
Further, according to a graph that compares Malaysia’s percentage of population infected with the rest of the world, the country is not doing well on a global scale in countering the pandemic.
Malaysia is located in the upper-right quadrant of the graph, and is moving deeper there, indicating further danger.
“Countries in the upper-right quadrant have the highest risk,” said the report.
“Relative to the world, as of April 24, Malaysia is moving further into this quadrant, which must raise some concerns.”
The nation is seeing a surge in Covid-19 cases, with daily numbers having exceeded 4,000, in addition to rising deaths.
Cases are inching towards the 5,000 mark, with the Health Ministry reporting 4,855 infections and 27 deaths yesterday.
In total, the country has recorded 458,077 infections, including 1,788 fatalities, since the pandemic began. – The Vibes, May 14, 2021
