South African Beta Variant In The Community Now Warns Health Dg

---

 
Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the increase in new Covid-19 cases was expected due to large-scale screening in the Klang Valley.PETALING JAYA: Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the Beta variant from South Africa has been detected in almost all states and is believed to have spread in the community now.
As such, he urged for strict control of the country’s borders to be continued and enhanced to stop the transmission of this and many other variants of concern (VOC).
In a Facebook post, Noor Hisham said variants such as the Alpha, Beta and also the most dangerous Delta were of most concern to doctors.
“However, existing vaccines are still effective against these variants,” he said.
Noor Hisham added that the increase in new Covid-19 cases was expected due to large-scale screening in high-risk communities in the Klang Valley.
He said the health ministry had been prepared to face an increase in patients by increasing bed capacity at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital, Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah (HTAR) in Klang, Selayang Hospital and UKM Children’s Specialist Hospital.
Noor Hisham said that there was also cooperation from private hospitals to treat non-Covid-19 patients.
The ministry has also mobilised health staff from states such as Perak, Terengganu and Pahang to assist with health facilities in the Klang Valley.
Commenting on the lack of beds in intensive care unit (ICU) wards, he said this was due to Category 4 and 5 patients who needed a longer period for recovery from their serious Covid-19 complications.
“The average treatment for Category 4 patients ranges from 14 to 16 days while Category 5 patients take 19 to 26 days,” he said.
Noor Hisham also said the current total administration of 300,000 vaccine doses a day was effective to accelerate the target of herd immunity.
“If the number of daily doses remains high, the vaccination target of 70% to 80% of the population may be reached by September.
“We need at least 50% of the population to be vaccinated to prevent more severe infections,” he said. - FMT

---