Health D-G: Cases expected to peak mid-April

PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry is bracing itself for the possibility of Covid-19 cases peaking in mid-April, as projected by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the ministry is on the same page with WHO on this prediction and has taken measures to mitigate against it.

“What WHO said is exactly what we predicted as well. We know we have citizens coming back home from overseas, and we fear that we would see an increase in imported cases.

“That is why we implemented the movement control order (MCO). With this, we are able to trace cases, especially at hotspots, earlier.

“By identifying cases earlier, we can isolate them earlier too.

“That is why these coming two weeks are crucial. If we play our roles by staying at home, constantly washing our hands, and practising social distancing, hopefully we can flatten the curve,” said Dr Noor Hisham at the ministry’s daily Covid-19 briefing here yesterday.

On Thursday, Malaysia recorded 208 new cases, bringing the total to 3,116. This represents the second highest daily jump after March 26’s 235 cases.

The Covid-19 death toll reached 50 yesterday, after Dr Noor Hisham announced five more fatalities.

However, the country also saw its highest number of recoveries in a day yesterday, with 122 patients discharged.

Dr Noor Hisham added that another preventive measure that takes effect today is the mandatory 14-day quarantine at an approved quarantine centre for all those entering Malaysia, including citizens.

“All of those arriving in the country will have to be kept at quarantine centres. We have also identified hotels where they can be quarantined as well.

“The reason we do this is because we find that some 15% of people who were asked to undergo home quarantine do not obey the quarantine order,” he said.

Dr Noor Hisham pointed out that China continues to enforce quarantine instructions on their citizens who return to their country.

“So we, too, must ensure that our returning citizens are screened upon arrival and be quarantined,” he said.