Malaysia recorded 6,075 Covid-19 cases today – including 2,251 in Selangor – the highest-ever total in a single day.
The previous high was on Jan 30 (5,728).
Although Selangor once again recorded the highest number of cases, its State Public Health, Unity, Women and Family Development Committee chairman Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud, had earlier in the day said there was no need for a full lockdown.
“One of the reasons for our high numbers is that we are doing mass testing.
“Another reason is our high population. If you look at our population (about 6.6 million), the ratio or average number of cases is low,” said Dr Siti.
Following today’s numbers, Selangor has close to 160,000 Covid-19 cases or about 2.42 per cent of its population.
As such, Dr Siti said there was no need for a full lockdown as it would cripple the nation’s economy. Selangor contributes about 25 per cent towards the national gross domestic product.
“This is why we are not happy with the slow roll-out of the national vaccine programme and why we have authorised Selgate to help us roll out our vaccine programme.”
She said the state government has agreed to buy 2.5 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccines for 1.25 million individuals.
“However, we may get more if the federal government is slow,” said Dr Siti, who declined to reveal which of the three approved vaccines – Sinovac, Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca – the state has purchased.
“I will have more details on this in the next week or two.”
She lamented the fact only 3.3 per cent of Selangorians have received the vaccine.
“The federal government should have considered the ratio of a state’s population when it planned the vaccination programme.
“How can you have herd immunity when less than four per cent of the population has been vaccinated?”
She added the more people the state can vaccinate the quicker it can have a ring fence to guard against Covid-19.
Meanwhile, Selangor Task Forced for Covid-19 (STFC) chairman Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said based on infectivity rate, Selangor (1.14) is not the highest. Pahang (1.26), Kedah (1.24), Perak (1.22), Terengganu (1.20) and Putrajaya and Negeri Sembilan (1.16) are higher.
“This is based on facts from the health ministry,” said the former health minister.
“We don’t want a full-scale lockdown as advocated by the current health minister but will comply if that is the government’s wish. If there is a lockdown it has to be targetted, focused and more effective. .
“But I would ask them to study the numbers first before making any decision.”
He also said the Health Ministry’s testing policy which states RTK tests must be confirmed by PCR tests took too long.
“To get a PCR appointment in the event of a positive RTK test takes three to five days and could be as long as 10-20 days,” he said.
Here’s the round-up of the news normal today.
PROTECT PREGNANT WOMEN WHO RECEIVED ASTRAZENECA COVID-19 JABS
Former deputy women, family and community development minister Hannah Yeoh has taken the government to task for taking so long to inform pregnant women that the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine may be unsafe for them.
Two days ago, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin revealed the Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines are not advisable for pregnant women.
“The announcement came too late and caused great distress among mothers who have received their AstraZeneca vaccination,” said Yeoh.
“The AstraZeneca voluntary programme began on May 5 – almost two weeks before Khairy’s announcement.”
She said all pregnant or nursing women who received the first dose of the vaccine should be eligible for compensation under the National Disaster Management Agency.
Yeoh also said the government should provide medically safe follow-up measures in relation to their second dose without delay and give clear instruction at all vaccination centres to ensure expectant and nursing mothers know the risks involved.
PICK IS NOT PERIKATAN NASIONAL’S MONOPOLY
Klang Member of Parliament Charles Santiago said while he understands that the Perikatan Nasional government and Khairy Jamaluddin, the minister in charge of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK), are trying their best, the vaccine rollout is slow.
“The national immunisation programme is not a Perikatan Nasional monopoly,” he said.
“It needs to urgently mobilise the 2,500 clinics across the country that have registered to help facilitate the vaccination process.
“For now, only 37 clinics have been authorised to vaccinate as part of the vaccine roll-out.”
He urged the government to encourage private foundations, philanthropists, private and professional groups, and non-governmental organisations to partner with the national effort in combating the virus.
The Penang government has received an offer of two million doses of the Sinovac vaccine, but the Health Ministry has denied the state permission to use them.
Khairy today clarified it was a scam as there was no such application made to Sinovac Biotech in China.
MACC HAS COMPLETED 29 OF 115 NACP INITIATIVES
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Datuk Seri Azam Baki said the body has completed 29 of the 115 initiatives in the National Anti-Corruption Plan (NACP) 2019-2023 as of Dec 31, 2021.
He said the other 86 initiatives were still in progress.
Azam said among the completed NACP initiatives are the introduction of asset declarations for administrator members and improvements to the policy on gifts, allowances and payments to administrative members.
STAND WITH AIN
As long as Malaysian leaders do not express a collective stand on issues concerning rape jokes, period spot checks and sexual harassment, this nation will stand to lose more than it can count, writes Rheanne Wong about Ain Husniza Saiful Nizam, who kickstarted the #MakeSchoolASaferPlace campaign.
