MoH is prepared for the worst — a possible surge in new COVID-19 cases in mid-April

KUALA LUMPUR (March 28): The government is not discounting the possibility of a surge in new COVID-19 cases come mid-April, said Health Director-General (DG) Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

“We expect a surge in April ... We prepare for the worst. It is better to be over-prepared than under-prepared, as under-prepared means not prepared,” he told a press conference on the COVID-19 daily update today.

According to the DG, the cleaning and disinfection process has started under the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, local authorities and the Kuala Lumpur City Council (DBKL). 

“That is the first step. The second process is acute case detection, where we find, test, and quarantine those identified for 14 days under self-quarantine,” he said.

Commenting on questions about the setting up of hospital beds in Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang, Noor Hisham revealed that the facility will have a total of 600 beds.

“This is a model where we utilise indoor halls, if we need the beds,” he said.

These are on top of 5,292 beds available by the Ministry currently. 

“At this point in time we see daily cases of more than 100, which is still under control but if the surge is 1,000 cases per day, we have to look for the beds,” he added.

Noor Hisham cited research reports by such as JP Morgan which predicts Malaysia will see a peak of 6,300 cases come mid-April.

“The prediction by the Malaysia Institute of Economic Research is even higher, at 8,900 cases.

“It all depends on us, if we all can work together as one. Everyone has a role to play, if we can stay at home and break the chain of infection, I believe we will perform much better than the predictions. 

“If we can bring our cases [to peak at] below 5,000 cases, then we would have achieved our goal. It is all up to us (all Malaysians) now (to combat the virus),” he said.

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