Covid-19 infections increase by three per cent over the festive season

PUTRAJAYA - The number of Covid-19 infections has increased up to three per cent this festive season with 4,817 cases reported in the epidemiological week (ME) 17.

Health Director-General Datuk Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan said the situation was still under control and health services and hospital capacity were not affected.

"Majority of patients who were admitted to hospitals are high-risk groups such as individuals with comorbidities and the elderly, but the increase does not burden the health services and hospitals are still operating as usual," he said in a statement, today.

He said category one and two patients admitted to public hospitals were around 1.4 to 1.8 per 100,000 population for the same period while the number of category three to five patients increased from 1.3 to 2.0 per 100,000 population.

He said the percentage of non-critical beds and intensive care unit (ICU) beds each increased by three per cent while there was an increase of 0.2 per cent for patients requiring respiratory assistance.

"The percentage of Covid-19 ICU bed occupancy on May 4 was 15 per cent and 23 per cent for non-critical bed occupancy. As of ME 17/2023, there are 33 Covid-19 clusters that are still active with one new cluster reported.

"The new cluster involves risk groups that occur in elderly care centres," he said.

Meanwhile, Muhammad Radzi said the Health Ministry expected a slight increase in Covid-19 cases to occur following the movement and gathering of relatives and friends during the Hari Raya and Wesak Day celebrations.

"In regards to that, the ministry encourages the public to wear a face mask if they have symptoms during visits to protect their families, neighbours and friends from getting infected," he said.