KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia reported 1,302 new COVID-19 cases and four fatalities today.
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah also said that over the past 24 hours, the country recorded 1,127 recovered cases, taking the total number of recoveries to 326,309, adding that there are now 14,380 active cases.
“Of the new cases, 1,293 were local transmissions while nine were import cases. A total of 169 patients are being treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) with 76 requiring respiratory aid,” he said in a statement today.
Sarawak reported the highest number of new cases with 426 followed by Selangor (256), Penang (212), Johor (176), Kuala Lumpur (58), Sabah (38), Kelantan (34), Pahang (32), Kedah and Perak with 23 cases each, Negeri Sembilan (nine), Labuan (six), Melaka (five), Terengganu and Putrajaya two cases each, while there were no cases reported in Perlis.
Dr Noor Hisham said the four fatalities involved Malaysians aged 63 to 77, all of whom with chronic illnesses.
Also, three new clusters were detected today, involving a workplace (Ladang Sungai Pelek, Selangor), a detention centre (Pagar Bukit Chagar, Johor) and one in the community (Patek in Kelantan).
“This brings the total number of clusters in Malaysia to 1,347, with 381 still active, while 14 clusters were declared ended today,” he said.
EMCO only if necessary
Meanwhile in Kelantan, state Health (JKNK) director, Datuk Dr Zaini Hussin has said that the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) would only be enforced in certain areas based on the data from time to time.
However, he added that if possible, the JKNK would not want to implement the EMCO as it would have many implications, especially from the economic aspect.
“It could cause a lot of worries but what is most important is whether the public can discipline themselves and comply with the standard operating procedure (SOP). But if forced to, the EMCO will be implemented.
“I believe enforcement is one of the ways to discipline people to adhere to the SOP. This is the new norm that we need to practise,” he told reporters after the state-level commemoration of World Tuberculosis Day at Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital, here, today.
On the increase of COVID-19 cases in Kelantan, Dr Zaini said it could be due to members of the public not following the SOP set.
He said Kelantan was the third state recording the most number of new cases after Sarawak and Selangor, with 138 cases reported yesterday, bringing the cumulative number of positive cases in the state to 6,066.
“What I see is that the drop in cases in Kelantan previously resulted in some people ignoring the SOP. Whether it’s a feast, tahlil session or gathering, the most important thing is to adhere to the SOP,” he added.
Everyone entitled to their opinions
Senior Education Minister Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin in a related development has said that each decision made by the Ministry of Education (MOE) while the country is fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic is based on the information according to the current situation and in the interests of the children, said .
Radzi said each action taken by the ministry was based on the information projected and forecasted at the time the decision was made, adding that it was just a forecast and prediction.
“When people asked if the school will re-open, we would say yes because we are committed to ensuring that schools can still be open but the reality is we do not know,” he said when speaking at the launching ceremony of the ‘Thank You Teacher’ programme in conjunction with the 50th National Teachers’ Day celebration here, today.
Citing an example, Radzi said the ministry had to postpone the reopening of school scheduled to start on Jan 20 this year when the daily COVID-19 cases reached 4,000 with no sign of it declining.
“(People) can talk, can give opinions but not one has ever dealt (with the COVID-19 crisis before). We (KPM) are the ones who had to analyse the data and discuss (to look) for the best approach,” he added.
Radzi said although the MOE faced great challenges and was under pressure during the period, it was committed to ensuring that the education ecosystem continued to run smoothly, especially in making sure that no pupils and students were left behind in their education.
