While acknowledging the sharp rise in active cases, deputy health director-general Dr Chong Chee Kheong said the majority of cases were not severe.

Today, the health ministry reported 20,939 Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours, with the total number of infections now standing at 2,996,361.

He noted that less than 1% of those cases were under Category 3, 4 and 5.

“At the same time, the latest data shows that only 1,637 cases were admitted to hospital wards, 158 cases in the intensive care unit (ICU) and fewer than 10 deaths were reported,” he said in a statement.

He noted, however, that the number of Covid-19 patients under home surveillance order had risen to 100,000 from 30,000 individuals three months ago.

“The health ministry now has the ability to increase the capacity to monitor individuals undergoing isolation or home surveillance and monitoring orders.

“The health ministry will increase its monitoring capacity to 200,000 individuals by next week.”

He urged the public to get their Covid-19 booster dose and for parents to allow their children to be vaccinated as soon as possible.