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COVID-19 | Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin expects Covid-19 cases in the country to increase in the short term, but stressed that the country was in a better position than before to deal with the outbreak.
In a televised speech today, Muhyiddin, who is in home quarantine, said aggressive tests by the Health Ministry would result in an increase in reported cases.
The number of active Covid-19 cases rose to 2,936 as of noon today, the highest on record.
The Health Ministry reported 691 new cases today, also a record, which were mainly attributed to groups of prisons in Kedah and Sabah.
Muhyiddin assured Malaysia was in a better position to deal with the latest wave of Covid-19.
He said, for example, that contact tracing was easier now, with about 60 percent of the population using the MySejahtera app.
He urged those who had not yet downloaded and used the app to do so immediately.
The public health system was also prepared and informed that ventilators, personal protective equipment and other necessary supplies were adequate.
Hospital beds specifically for Covid-19 patients, he said, were currently at 29 percent capacity.
“We are now better prepared than before in terms of experience and manpower. We know the behavior of the virus better and we have sufficient facilities and equipment.
“But we have to interrupt the transmission of the virus and the best way is to stay at home, especially in areas where directed motion control (MCO) orders are being enforced.”
“We have to flatten the curve. We did it before and I firmly believe we can do it again,” he said.
In his speech, Muhyiddin also said that his administration was not considering a total shutdown of the country for now due to the economic devastation such a move could cause.
Instead, your administration will selectively enforce the locks.
By midnight, seven districts of Sabah will be closed. Travel to and from Sabah will also be temporarily banned for most people between October 12 and 25.
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