PUTRAJAYA MAR 30: The situation (curve) of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia could be seen in the first week of April depending on the discipline of the people during the enforcement of Movement Control Order (MCO) effective March 18 until March 31 of the first phase.
Director General of Health, Datuk Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah said, the people include those living in the country and those coming back from tour overseas should observe self-quarantine at home for 14 days following the Ministry’s specifications.
“It is estimated that 10,000 Malaysians come back from overseas every day before MCO and 4,000 after the enforcement of the Order. The fear is some of them still go out instead of staying at home for 14 days,” said Dr. Noor Hisham in a press conference here today.
He added, the ministry is observing closely the COVID-19 cases here compared to other countries where there is exponential rise of 900-1,000 positive cases per day compared to Malaysia with 100-200 per day.
“Our approach is to detect and isolate those with positive COVID-19. If everybody in the society comply with MCO by staying at home and be 100 meter (social distancing) apart from others in the public place then the COVID-19 curve could be flat,” he said.
He hoped the prediction of International Financial Services House JPMorgan that there will be 6,300 COVID-19 positive cases in Malaysia by mid April and 8,900 cases as predicted by the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIESR) will not happen.
Dr. Noor Hisham said as for today there are three deaths that makes the total of 37 deaths or 1.45% from the total of 2,628 cases recorded until today, 156 new cases, 479 discharged and 2,110 under treatment.
“In February Malaysia has only 790 positive COVID-19 cases compared to 2,628 as recorded until today. There were only 57 hospitals conducting the corona virus screening test at that time compared to 70 hospitals doing it now. From that seven hospitals are specialised in treating COVID-19 cases,” he added.
Dr. Noor Hisham also reported that there are 90 positive COVID-19 cases in Maahad Tahfiz An-Nabawiyyah and from that only one case happened outside the “madrasah”.
He also confirmed that the case was linked to the tabligh assembly in Sri Petaling one month ago. It had been infecting the first until fifth generation and possibly had been spreading to Hulu Langat and Sungai Lui.
On the situation of COVID-19 cases, Dr. Noor Hisham said, the ministry has done 18,271 health screening,14,111 samples were taken,1,290 were found positive, 8,083 negative and 4,738 are waiting for results –Malaysia World News.
