High Klang Valley Numbers Due To Ramped Up Testing Says Dg

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Close contact detection and health screening activities have been implemented more vigorously for the early detection of cases, says Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.PETALING JAYA: The increase in Covid-19 cases in the Klang Valley reported this week is the result of a ramp-up in public health measures in areas that have been placed under the enhanced movement control order (EMCO).
In a statement today, health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said Selangor and Kuala Lumpur accounted for 42.02% and 13.01% of cases from July 1-7 respectively, as opposed to 38.33% and 12.29% the week before.
“During the EMCO, public health activities can be more focused. Close contact detection and health screening activities, especially on symptomatic individuals, have been implemented more vigorously for the early detection of Covid-19 cases.
“This allows immediate isolation to be carried out to prevent community spread.
“In addition, the health ministry also conducts screenings of 10% of the population living in the EMCO areas and priority is given to those at high risk,” he said, adding that the number of cases will continue to increase with the measures in place.
To address the sudden increase in case numbers, Noor Hisham said the ministry would continue to outsource services to private hospitals and laboratories to boost the government’s capacity to deal with the virus.
“To date, a total of 72 private hospitals have been involved in outsourcing activities throughout the country.
“Following the sharp increase in cases in the Klang Valley, Hospital Kuala Lumpur has stepped up outsourcing activities to nearby private hospitals.
“Since July 6, a total of 25 patients have been sent to private hospitals and an estimated four patients will be sent daily.
“The number of patients who will be sent to private hospitals within six months is estimated at 993 people, involving an allocation of RM18 million.”
In order to boost testing capacity, bodies such as the defence ministry, the science, technology and innovation ministry, universities and accredited private laboratories have been brought in to assist, with 116,803 tests administered daily at present.
Meanwhile, Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari agreed with Noor Hisham, saying that comprehensive screening and contact tracing in EMCO areas was responsible for the spike in the state’s case count.
He said that in a meeting today with the National Security Council (MKN), he backed keeping non-essential sectors and industries closed for the duration of the EMCO, and called for vaccinations for workers to be accelerated.
“The state government views that the goal of implementing an EMCO, to break the chain of infection and reduce the burden on the national health system, has not yet been achieved,” he tweeted. - FMT

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