Covid-19 cases have doubled since the start of the month, rising from 5,566 infections on Feb 1 to 11,034 cases today, with the health minister saying that the country is in the midst of a wave involving the highly contagious Covid-19 Omicron variant.
Speaking to reporters today, Khairy said that the Omicron wave’s expected peak of about two months is in line with that of other countries.
“We have our experts running mathematical models… epidemiologists and statisticians. At the moment – and again, this can change – the wave will probably peak sometime at the end of March,” he said.
“And that tracks with other countries. It takes about two months (to peak). So either the booster dose immunity has protected most people, or, those who are not protected have got Omicron, and they’ve got natural immunity.”
Yesterday, Khairy said he expected Omicron cases to hit 15,000 soon, with health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah warning that daily cases are expected to reach 22,000 by the end of March.
Work from home
Khairy encouraged employers to start allowing their employees to start working from home once again, to reduce the number of people on the move over the next few weeks. “This will control the sharp increase (in cases),” he said.
He said he has had discussions with the finance ministry and Bank Negara Malaysia on the matter.
Khairy also encouraged employers to provide their employees with Covid-19 test kits and better-quality masks, and to improve ventilation at workplaces, using incentives from the finance ministry.
The last time new daily cases hit five digits was more than four months ago on Oct 2 when there were 10,915 cases reported.
Fewer reports of adverse effects
Khairy said there were fewer reports of people suffering adverse effects after booster shots. The rate was four times lower than the overall rate – 84 reports per million doses, compared to the overall rate of 390 reports per million doses, and 5 reports per million of serious adverse effects compared to the overall rate of 27 reports per million.
Antiviral drugs for early-stage patients
Khairy said the ministry was introducing the latest antiviral drugs to treat early-stage patients with mild symptoms to prevent the infection from worsening.
He added that the antiviral treatment would involve health clinics, assessment centres, treatment and quarantine centres and hospitals where the patients were admitted.
“This treatment will begin after the supply of antiviral drugs is ready,” he said, adding that the ministry was finalising the purchase of the drugs.
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