PUTRAJAYA – Malaysians should be very concerned as 82,341 coronavirus cases in the country involve infants and children.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba, in disclosing the grim figure, said of the total, 19,851 cases involve children below 4; 8,237 cases involve those aged 5 and 6; 26,851 (7-12); and, 27,402 (13-17).
All are Covid-19 patients in Categories 1, 2 and 3, however “no one is in the intensive care unit”, he added.
Dr Adham advised parents or guardians to be more responsible in protecting youngsters from being infected, such as by not taking them to crowded places.
He said although there is no provision under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342) that allows compounds to be imposed on parents who take children to crowded places, investigation papers can be opened.
On the number of Covid-19 tests conducted between May 23 and 29, he said 774,863 individuals were screened, with 53,419 testing positive.
Following the sudden climb in new cases, Dr Adham said his ministry will expand screening using the RTK-Antigen test, with the assistance of state governments.
“The Health Ministry will increase screening for close contacts, especially in the Klang Valley, by creating sampling centres in the community.”
He said to increase the detection of positive cases in the community, the ministry will increase monitoring of all symptomatic cases receiving treatment at ministry health facilities, as well as those with a history of comorbid diseases, regardless of age.
He also expressed concern over the risk of death due to Covid-19, which is 0.45%, meaning 45 out of 10,000 patients face the risk of death based on the rate currently recorded. – Bernama, May 31, 2021
