KUALA LUMPUR – New Covid-19 cases in Malaysia are back on an upward trend, recording 5,413 infections today from 5,143 cases yesterday and bringing the cumulative total to 2,556,865, said Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.
In a statement today, he said that a total of 6,013 recoveries were also reported, making the total recovered cases 2,461,780.
He added that of the new cases reported today, 545 are in intensive care units and 264 of them require respiratory assistance.
“Among the 5,413 cases recorded today, 102 (1.9%) involved patients in categories 3, 4, and 5 while 5,311 (98.1%) involved cases in categories 1 and 2,” he said.
The nation has seen a total of 5, 850 clusters since the beginning of the pandemic. The number of clusters that have ended are at 5,598 while 252 remain active.
Newly detected cluster numbers remain on a worryingly upwards trend, with seven new clusters detected today after yesterday’s report of three new clusters.
Additional information on the details of newly detected clusters were not provided in Dr Noor Hisham’s statement.
According to him, workplace cluster numbers that previously recorded a downward trend since epidemiology week 37 (September 12-18) have started to increase again in week 45 (November 7-13).
He further noted that the increase is in line with the opening of state borders and economic sectors under Phase 4 of the National Recovery Plan.
“Clusters in the workplace are expected to increase if employers do not ensure that preventive measures are undertaken by their workers,” he said, adding that the reopening of schools in Phase 4 states have also contributed to a significant increase in educational centre clusters.
On a national level, the numbers of Covid-19 patients being treated in health facilities have increased since epidemiology week 44 (October 31-November 6) as cases in categories 3, 4, and 5 are on the rise.
Regarding the Health Ministry’s enforcement of adherence to standard operating procedures, 251 compounds have been issued to individuals and 29 to corporation bodies within epidemiology week 45 itself.
“Violations include failures to wear face masks and not observing social distancing,” he said, noting that 63 premises have also been closed by MoH officers. – The Vibes, November 16, 2021
