KUALA LUMPUR – The number of new Covid-19 cases with serious symptoms will be used as a new indicator for the transition into Phases 3 and 4 of the National Recovery Plan (NRP), said coordinating minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz.
He said this would replace the Covid-19 new cases indicator, using as proxy the new hospital admission criteria for Covid-19 adapted for Categories 3, 4 and 5.
Having reached a vaccination rate of 40% among the adult population, he said the number of new Covid-19 cases have become less relevant, as most cases are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic (Categories 1 and 2), effectively reducing the burden on the public health infrastructure.
“However, the vaccination rate and the intensive care unit (ICU) utilisation rate indicators are still maintained,” he said in the 64th Report of the National Economic Implementation and Strategic Coordination Agency (Laksana).
Tengku Zafrul, who is also finance minister, said based on research data and science, a high vaccination rate in the population has helped reduce the number of serious symptomatic cases.
He said this trend has not only been observed overseas, but in Sarawak and Labuan as well.
In line with the updated key indicator to transition from Phase 2 to Phase 3 of the NRP, he said Perlis, Sarawak and Labuan have met the set threshold value, and therefore successfully moved to Phase 3.
“Perlis has already met all previous threshold values to move to Phase 3, while Sarawak has already achieved a vaccination rate of 63.7% of its adult population, surpassing the threshold value for Phase 4 for the indicator, which is 60%.
“Although the number of Covid-19 cases in Sarawak averages more than 300 a day, the number of cases per day identified in Categories 3, 4 and 5 is fewer than 10 cases, or 2%, of the cases reported,” he said.
According to Tengku Zafrul, the situation in Labuan is recognised as a resounding success as not long ago, Labuan experienced a dire situation with uncontrolled transmission rates, which it has overcome with rapid, widespread vaccination efforts. Its fresh Covid-19 cases, as well as ICU admissions, have been markedly reduced. – Bernama, August 5, 2021
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