COVID-19 weekly round-up: Recovery rate up, MCO tightened

This week also saw the nation recording double-digit figures in terms of daily new cases.

On Wednesday, 85 new cases were reported – the first two-digit figure in about a month since March 15 when Malaysia started recording three-digit hikes in daily new cases.

And, today 69 new cases were reported.

Yesterday, 201 patients were discharged as of noon, bringing the cumulative total of recovered cases to 2,967.

With the 69 new cases reported today, Malaysia’s cumulative COVID-19 cases stood at 5,251.

Yesterday too, 119 patients recovered against 110 new cases reported.

On Wednesday, 169 patients were discharged against 85 new cases reported. On Monday, 168 patients recovered against 134 new cases.

As of noon yesterday, two more deaths were reported, bringing the death toll to 86 which translates into a fatality rate of 1.64 per cent of total COVID-19 cases.

Fifty-one patients are in intensive care units and 29 of them require ventilatory aid.

According to Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, more than 60 per cent of patients who succumbed to the disease were aged above 60.

The third phase of the Movement Control Order (MCO) from April 15-28 is a critical period as it will determine whether the government’s efforts to break the chain of COVID-19 transmission have been successful.

The first phase of the MCO was from March 18-31 and second phase April 1-14.

Beginning April 15, the police started taking more stringent action against MCO violators who will no longer be issued compounds. Instead, they will be hauled to court under Section 24 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342). Upon conviction, they face a fine or imprisonment of up to two years, or both.

Second-time offenders face imprisonment of up to five years or fine, or both. A total of 13 prison academies will serve as detention centres for MCO violators to avoid overcrowding at prisons.

On Thursday, police arrested 1,057 people for flouting the MCO, bringing the total number of people arrested so far to 12,074.

The government, meanwhile, has placed five areas under the Enhanced Movement Control Order EMCO), the latest being Masjid India in Kuala Lumpur which covers Jalan Mushi Abdullah, Jalan Tun Perak, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Dang Wangi, Jalan Melaka and Jalan Ampang.

The enhanced order was imposed after the Ministry of Health (MOH) found a substantial hike in COVID-19 cases in the areas concerned.