WITH an escalating number of Covid-19 infections that now total 553 following two consecutive days of a major spike in cases, Malaysia is preparing to enter the mitigation phase of the pandemic, said Health Minister Adham Baba.

This phase is the most severe level, he told a press conference in Putrajaya today.

“There has been a significant increase in cases over the last week. Considering the current situation, the ministry would like to announce that we have entered the late containment stage.

“In the late containment stage, we work to contain the Covid-19 spread from becoming more serious.

“At the same time, the Health Ministry is making preparations to enter the mitigation stage,” Adham said.

In a virus outbreak, the fight to curb its spread starts with the onset phase and moves on to the early containment phase, late containment phase and finally, the mitigation phase.

As of noon today, there are 125 new cases, bringing the total to 553.  Yesterday the ministry reported a record high of 190 new cases.

Ninety-five of today’s new cases were attendees at last month’s tabligh gathering at a mosque in Sri Petaling.
 
The total number of cases from the tabligh event is now 338.

The three-day event at the Sri Petaling mosque called Jord Qudama & Ulama Malaysia 2020 between February 27 and March 1 attracted about 16,000 participants, including from Brunei, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia.

Around 14,500 Malaysians were said to have attended the event.

Adham said 12 patients were on respiratory support in the intensive care unit.

He said the four most affected states were Selangor with 144 cases, Kuala Lumpur (106), Sabah (57), and Johor (52).

There were sufficient infectious disease entomologists in every state, he said.

Meanwhile, Sungai Buloh Hospital is being readied to serve as an “admitting hospital” for Covid-19 cases.

Other preparations include increasing the capacity and capabilities of the laboratories to detect the virus, and and identifying quarantine centres nationwide.

The authorities would also “collaborate with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and private facilities in Covid-19 case management”. – March 16, 2020.