ALARMED over the rise in the reproductive rate (r-naught) of the Covid-19 virus, director-general of health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said he is concerned that people are becoming complacent in following standard operating procedures (SOP), including front-liners.

He said many people, even healthcare and other front-line workers, have started to take the Health Ministry’s advice lightly.

The significant rise in cases has propelled the r-naught to 1.72, which is above the critical level of 1.6.

He said the rate had gone up to 1.72 from 0.72 two weeks ago, and indicates the risk of transmissions within the community.

“The health ministry has observed increased movement among people in Malaysia. It is possible that people have become more complacent about the SOPs,” he said at the ministry’s weekly press conference on the Covid-19 pandemic in Malaysia.

Malaysia saw a significant rise in Covid-19 cases for the second day in a row, with the total number of infections now numbering at 9,559.

There were 100 cases reported in the last 24 hours, with the bulk of cases coming from the Benteng Lahad Datu cluster in Sabah, which involved crowding at police lockup, and Sungai cluster in Kedah, which began with healthcare workers at a private facility. – September 8, 2020.