Cases could reach 10,000 if not blocked, said the PM

Malaysia is facing a more challenging third wave of Covid-19 following the emergence of several new variants that increase the contagion rate of the epidemic in the country.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the country had recorded a sharp increase in cases over the past few weeks with Covid-19 positive cases reaching more than 4,000 cases a day over the past few days.

More worryingly, he said, there were new variants of Covid-19 in Malaysia that were more violent as experienced in India, the United Kingdom, Brazil, South Africa and several other countries.

The Prime Minister expects the number of daily Covid-19 cases to reach five figures ( 10,000) in the next few weeks if the spread of the new variant is not curbed.

"At that time, the entire health system of our country which is in a critical condition at the moment will be paralyzed as is the case in other countries, patients die lying on the streets because hospitals no longer have the capacity to receive patients," he said in a message recording. in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri which was broadcast on a local television station, tonight.

Muslims in this country will celebrate Aidilfitri tomorrow.

Muhyiddin said the government could increase the number of beds, oxygen supply and ventilators as the hospitals in the country were currently approaching maximum capacity with the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) ward beds getting full.

However, he said the number of beds and other medical equipment provided would not be able to accommodate the number of patients if the number of positive cases increased sharply.

Muhyiddin said areas that were previously categorized as green zones were turning yellow and then red.

"The government initially took targeted action to curb the spread of the virus in the community. We implemented the Movement Control Order (PKP) in several states and districts. The Tightened Movement Control Order (PKPD) was also implemented in some areas," he said.

However, he said within a few weeks, almost all areas in the country turned into a red zone due to the virus spreading rapidly, with almost 70 per cent of cases of infection occurring sporadically in the community.