THE number of fresh Covid-19 infections dropped by 9.9% to 5,801 cases from May 21 to 27, compared with 6,439 cases in the previous week.

Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said Covid-19 admissions, including suspected cases, to health facilities declined from 5.8 to 5.3 per 100,000 people during the week.

In a statement today, she said intensive care unit and non-critical bed occupancy decreased by 4% each.

“(From May 21 to 27), 113 new variants were reported, comprising 87 variants of concern and 26 variants of interest, all of which were Omicron variants,” she said.

She said the cumulative number of cases of XBB.1.16 (Arcturus) and its sublineages stood at 50, all of which were local.

As of May 27, only half, or 16,335,353 Malaysians, have received the first booster dose, while only 2.5% or 823,317 people have gotten the second booster shot.

“The risk of hospitalisation and the severity of (Covid-19) symptoms can be reduced by taking a booster dose. Until now, the Covid-19 situation in Malaysia is still under control and health services in hospitals have not been affected,” she said.

Regarding the hot weather, Dr Zaliha said no new deaths due to heat stroke were reported from May 21 to 27.

Thirty-four cases of heat-related illness were recorded in the five weeks until May 27 – 20 cases of heat exhaustion, nine cases of heat cramps, and five cases of heat stroke.

She said 21 cases were adults, eight were teenagers, three were children and two were senior citizens, adding that all other cases were stable and have been discharged.

Dr Zaliha advised the public to limit outdoor and extreme physical activities, and to drink water regularly.

“If you experience symptoms of heat-related illness, seek immediate treatment at a nearby health facility,” she said. – Bernama, June 7, 2023.