‘Mitigating measures working’

DG: But people must continue to keep distance and obey MCO

After two weeks of implementing the movement control order (MCO), there are early signs that the government’s efforts are working, says Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

The Health director-general said the actual number of Covid-19 cases showed a lower trajectory than what was forecast by the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER).

“When you compare MIER’s projected trajectory with the actual number of cases, it is much lower.

“These are early signs that the mitigating measures are working,” he told a press conference yesterday.

But Dr Noor Hisham said the people must continue to maintain social distancing and to obey the stay-at-home order.

“The next two weeks are crucial. It will show if the MCO has produced the intended impact,” he said.

According to MIER’s projection, Malaysia will see 4,087 new Covid19 cases by March 31, an increase of between 200 and 399 new cases per day.

However, only 2,766 cases were recorded as of March 31.

On average, the number of new cases daily was about 100 to 150 since March 23, except on March 26 which saw a spike of 235 cases.

The enhanced MCO is scheduled to end on April 14, barring any further extension by the government.

On a positive note, Dr Noor Hisham said 108 Covid-19 patients have been discharged, which was the highest so far since the start of the virus outbreak.

“The number of patients who have recovered are 645, which is 22.2% of the total number of cases. This is a sign that Malaysia’s recovery rate is continuously improving,” he said.

Dr Noor Hisham said there were 142 new cases yesterday, bringing the overall tally to 2,908 cases.

“A total of 102 patients are receiving treatment in the intensive care unit, with 66 of them requiring ventilators,” he said.

There were two more fatalities – an 80-year-old local woman and a 62-year-old local man – bringing the country’s death toll to 45.

Both of them had a history of diabetes and high blood pressure.