He said currently the country has not entered the fourth wave as it has yet to succeed in recording zero cases under the present third wave.

“In the last three weeks, the number of cases we have recorded has yet to show a decline, so it has not yet entered the fourth wave.

“The fourth wave can only occur if the third one has reached the ‘baseline’ or zero mark and then the transmission starts again,” he told Bernama when met at Surau As-Syakirin, Taman Sri Saujana, today.

Adham said the probability of Malaysia experiencing a fourth wave would be in the event of a decline in compliance with standard operating procedures (SOPs) among the public, resulting in the emergence of new clusters.

He said that among the factors that caused the increase in cases this time were activities in early April, including weddings and gatherings, as well as sending children to schools and universities in different states.

New daily cases rose to 2,551 yesterday and recorded 2,331 today.

On July 1 last year, Malaysia recorded the lowest daily number with only one new case reported during the second wave of the pandemic and no cases of infection within the country, either among Malaysians or foreigners.

Malaysia, which was hit by the third wave starting on Sept 20 last year, started to record four-digit daily cases on Oct 24 at 1,228.

On the alleged failure to comply with SOPs at Ramadan bazaars, Adham said the local authorities should constantly monitor the situation as they had recently been authorised to impose compound fines on those failing to comply with SOPs.

“Apart from the local authority, the Covid-19 Eradicating Agents (ABC-19) must be in the area too, including the People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela), the Royal Malaysia Police and the health ministry staff,” he said.

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