THE Delta variant has become the dominant strain in Malaysia, contributing to the rise in Covid-19 cases, deputy director-general of health (research and technical support) Dr Hishamshah Mohd Ibrahim said today.

“From the genomic sequencing we have carried out at the Institute of Medical Research (IMR) and other labs, the dominant strain is the Delta variant,” he said.

Hishamshah said the original strain, which caused the initial set of infections last year, had an infection rate of 2.5. 

Comparatively, the Delta variant, which was first documented in India, had a much higher rate of infection, with one infected person being able to transmit the virus to as many as eight people.

“It is a new virus. The method to flatten the curve is different and will take time,” he said in a press conference today.

He said the variant of concern has also been the dominant strain in the Covid-19 cases reported in the Klang Valley, which is now a virus hotbed.

Hishamshah said, based on the 1,668 genome sequencing studies as of July 22, there were 409 variants of concerns.

Of this, 189 were Delta variants, 206 were Beta and 14 were Alpha.

He said more genome sequencing will be done this month with the formation of a consortium of labs.

He added that it will take some time before the cases in the Klang Valley decline as the area has a high population density.

Hishamshah said the vaccination rate should be high before SOP could be relaxed for vaccinated people, adding that 40-50% vaccination coverage will be good, but 80% would be ideal.

He said other countries with high vaccination rates started seeing a rise in the number of cases after relaxing the rules for those who have been vaccinated.

“So we should learn a lesson from other countries, although those who got two doses have some sort of protection against serious infections…. it (the relaxation of rules) should not be done hastily,” he added.

He said compliance with SOP is also important as the current variants are highly contagious.

However, he said the matter was being discussed at the highest level.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin is expected to make an announcement on relaxing rules for vaccinated people. – August 6, 2021.