KOTA BARU – The significant increase in Covid-19 infections and deaths in Kelantan this year is believed to be due to the spread of the Beta variant – formerly known as the South African variant – in the community.
State Health Department director Datuk Dr Zaini Hussin said this is based on genome-sequencing test results of 23 samples taken from several clusters.
“We didn’t send all cases (for genome sequencing). We only took samples from several clusters in the state,” he told reporters here today.
“It is possible that the majority of cases in Kelantan are of the Beta variant.
“It spreads so fast, and in fact, the average number of deaths has also increased to between four and six a day, bringing total fatalities this year to 175 compared with only seven last year.
“This variant may be spreading in the community in Kelantan.”
The state today logged 230 infections, taking its overall caseload to 32,742.
Dr Zaini said 12% of the state’s 1.2 million people have received both vaccine doses.
“At present, the daily vaccination capacity is 6,000 to 8,000 doses. We can increase it to between 14,000 and 32,000 a day with the arrival of a large supply in July.” – Bernama, June 16, 2021
