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PUTRAJAYA: The health ministry has announced that it expects an increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in Malaysia in the coming months.
Chief Health Officer Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said this was because South Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand were also experiencing an increase in infections.
“We are worried about the next few months. Cases will increase. Now, even before winter, we are seeing an escalation of cases in other countries, “he told a press conference today.
Noor Hisham also said that the country needed to strengthen its international borders to prevent further spread of the virus.
“There is a possibility that cases will continue to increase, but what is more important is that in Malaysia we are not immune, we have to reinforce our borders.
“If we ease the restriction, it is not impossible for cases to enter. That is the reason why we have identified 23 countries (whose people are prohibited from entering the country).”
He added that those who enter the country must continue to comply with SOPs by submitting to the test and submitting to mandatory quarantine for 14 days.
“All these precautionary measures must be implemented to anticipate the increase in cases in the coming months. We need to prepare for the worst, but we hope and pray for the best. “
Commenting on Malaysia’s signing for Covax, Noor Hisham said that the ministry was still in negotiations with the global Covid-19 vaccine development platform.
“Certainly a vaccine is useful, but (as of) today we don’t have a phase three clinical trial report on the vaccine, so we need to research the vaccine first, and once the vaccine is available, we need to negotiate how secure the vaccine. for our population in this country. So this is an ongoing process that we are discussing. “
Over the weekend, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation announced that Putrajaya was discussing terms to join the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (Gavi), which manages the Covax initiative.
He added that the government was preparing the agreement to join the Coalition for Innovations in Epidemic and Preparedness (Cepi) and government-to-government agreements with Beijing for access to vaccines to be developed by pharmaceutical companies in China.
He also said that the Ministry of Health had signed confidentiality agreements with several international pharmaceutical companies that are in phase three of their vaccine trials.
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