AN infectious disease expert warned today that the coronavirus outbreak in Kelantan could get out of control unless a lockdown or similar preventive measures is instituted at once.

Speaking to the New Sunday Times, Universiti Malaya Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre director Professor Dr Sazaly Abu Bakar said Kelantan could be the next state after Sabah to see surging virus cases.

Sazaly said the speed at which Covid-19 was spreading in Kelantan, particularly the Mengketil cluster, which had reported 41 cases in five days, was worrying.

He said Kelantan residents were more susceptible to the virus because a large number of them had  diabetes and hypertension.

“If the numbers keep going up, there is no choice but to impose a targetted EMCO on the affected areas. We don’t want Kelantan to be the next Sabah, which has charted a high number of deaths,” he was quoted as saying.

The National Security Council issued a conditional MCO for Kelantan, effective from November 21 to December 6, following a rise in the number of infections.

The new cases are attributed to people travelling back to the state from places under a CMCO.

Kelantan saw seven new infections each yesterday and the day before

In total, the state has recorded 271 infections and three virus deaths. Of the surviving cases, 87 are active and 81 are recovered.

State capital Kota Baru remains a red zone with 129 cases, of which 33 are active.

Machang and Tanah Merah are also critical districts with 26 and 13 active cases, respectively.

Sabah is especially hard hit by a third wave of infections since September, logging a total 25,441 cases, of which 6,159 remain active, and 186 deaths.

Yesterday the state reported 512 new cases and three deaths. – November 22, 2020.