THERE is no need to worry about the recent rise in Covid-19 cases as it does not mean that the country is facing a new health crisis, said health experts.

They said most fresh infections come under the less severe categories (Categories 1 and 2) thanks to the successful implementation of the vaccination drive.

Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy head Azrul Mohd Khalib said instead, focus should be on hospitalisations, deaths and the severity of Covid-19 cases.

Malaysia is well-prepared to face any sudden surge in infections given the experience gained over the past two years, he added.

“I do not think there is any cause for alarm (over the rise in new cases),” he told The Malaysian Insight.

“For the Health Ministry, it is focusing on hospitalisations, deaths and serious illnesses. I think those are our primary concerns.

“In general, I think Malaysia is very much prepared (for any sudden surge in infections).”

People should complete their primary vaccinations and get their booster as these shots will prevent cases from reaching severe stages, he added.

“If they get infected, it will probably be in Categories 1 or 2, with mild or no symptoms.”

Malaysia recorded coronavirus cases between the ranges of 4,000 to 5,000 a day in the past week.

It also logged more infections than recoveries in the past 13 days, resulting in active cases breaching the 50,000 mark.

Currently, there are 53,248 active cases, of which most are in Categories 1 and 2.

Ex-deputy health minister Dr Lee Boon Chye said the reopening of economic sectors will add to the number of new daily Covid-19 cases.

He said thanks to the vaccination drive, hospitalisation and mortality rates are low, adding that he hopes the rates do not rise following the emergence of fresh infections.

“The reopening of the economic and other sectors has contributed to an increase in infections. It is the nature of the virus, but most cases are still in the mild categories.

“From experience seeing other countries, (when) the population is vaccinated, even if the number of cases increases, the hospitalisation and mortality rates will not increase.”

Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM) president Dr Kuljit Singh said there is no need to panic over the climb in daily Covid-19 cases.

However, he reminded the public to always comply with standard operating procedures (SOP).

“They should not let their guard down. Follow the SOP like physical distancing, wearing of face masks – preferably double-masking – and avoiding crowded places.

“These are basic rules that one can follow without panicking.

“We can continue daily activities, but not at a level where we assume there is no more Covid-19.”

A need for healthcare reinforcement

Azrul said he is more concerned about manpower matters in the healthcare system than the emergence of new cases, should there be a sudden surge in cases that require hospitalisation.

Despite the fight against Covid-19 lasting for almost two years, the one problem that the country continues to face is manpower, he added.

He said healthcare workers not only face fatigue, but have sacrificed a lot, too, and expecting them to battle another outbreak will be a bit too much.

Medical frontliners must be supported and their welfare taken care of, he added.

“I think one of the key issues that we will continue to face with this sort of outbreak is with manpower.

“The same people are doing the same thing for almost two years. When we are facing a war, we must have reinforcements.

“Some (frontliners) have quit as they cannot take it anymore; they are human, too. They have made a lot of sacrifices. They must be well-supported and their welfare taken care of.

“We need to bring new people into the healthcare system and, at the same time, ensure the current ones stay.”

Dr Lee echoes Azrul’s sentiment, saying that medical staff were “already facing heavy workloads before the pandemic”.

Even after Covid-19 came, “the number of healthcare workers in the ministry have not increased much”, he added.

“Healthcare workers in district health offices and government health clinics have to deal with Covid-19 cases and other cases at the same time. They are obviously burnt-out.”

The Gopeng MP said the ministry should have used the Covid-19 crisis to improve the healthcare system and services.

The number of permanent healthcare workers has increased from 149,031 in 2010 to 214,534 in 2021. There are also about 23,000 contract doctors, according to the Health Ministry.

Dr Kuljit said APHM is prepared to support the public healthcare system if there is another coronavirus outbreak in the country.

The association will take in non-Covid-19 patients as it did last year, to ease the burden of the government and free-up space in public hospitals.

“We will work again as we did last year. So if cases increase, we will see non-Covid-19 patients from public hospitals.” – February 1, 2022.