ALMOST all states and territories in the country have shown an increase in Covid-19 cases and hospital admissions after inter-district travel restriction was lifted, Khairy Jamaluddin said. 

The health minister said bed utilisation, including that for those in critical care, is fast rising. 

“Following the lifting of inter-district travel restriction on October 11, almost all states showed an increase in Covid-19 cases except for Perlis, Sabah and Sarawak,” he said at a press conference in Putrajaya today.

“If observed in detail, six states and territories, namely Perak, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Terengganu, Kelantan and Labuan, showed non-ICU bed utilisation rates exceeding 50%.

“Seven states and territories, namely Penang, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Malacca, Terengganu and Kelantan, showed ICU bed utilisation rates exceeding 50%.”

Khairy said Covid-19 patients from categories 1 to 5 that are treated at the health facilities across the country are increasing. 

He said last week alone, the average active Covid-19 case indicator has shown an increase of 6% compared with the previous week. 

“The average active case indicator of Covid-19 has shown an increase of 6% in the last week from 62,224 cases (epidemiology week 45) to 65,722 (epidemiology week 46),” he said.

“This is because the daily Covid-19 cases in epidemiology week 46 have increased to 40,600 from 39,181 in epidemiology week 45

“Although over 98% of new Covid-19 cases are categories 1 and 2, the increase in new cases and active cases for two consecutive weeks has resulted in the admission of cases to health facilities.

“Therefore, overall, the utilisation rate of health facilities (non-ICU beds, ICU beds and low-risk quarantine centres) was found to start increasing again, especially in the Klang Valley.”

He said among the Covid-19 patients in categories 3 to 5 who are treated in the health facilities are those in the age group of 40 years and above and the elderly (60 years and above). 

He said this may be because of decreased antibody levels as these age groups were the earliest to receive the two primary doses of Covid-19 vaccines.

Khairy urged people to register and take up the booster dose so that the severity of infection could be reduced.

“The elderly and those between 40 and 59 years old received their Covid-19 vaccine early. Therefore, their antibody levels have also dropped earlier,” he said.

“Hence, to ensure that the level of antibodies remains optimal, the ministry is recommending the administration of booster doses.”

Khairy said as of November 25, a total of 1,823,474 booster doses have been given. – November 26, 2021.