Christopher Lee to lead committee to review Covid-19 deaths

CORONAVIRUS | The Crisis Preparedness Response Centre (CPRC) has tapped former Health Ministry deputy director-general (research and technical support) Christopher Lee, who is also an infectious disease expert, to lead a committee that will review details of Covid-19 deaths in the country.

Health Ministry director-general Noor Hisham Abdullah, who made the announcement on Facebook, said it is hoped that the Covid-19 Mortality Review Committee's analysis of the deaths can yield information to help with existing patients.

"He will be assisted by experts from various related disciplines.

"Through the committee, every management and treatment detail for every Covid-19 death will be scrutinised by the experts.

"It is hoped that with the analysis of the information, it can help in the management of Covid-19 patients.

"Thank you, Dr Chris, for your willingness to assist despite having retired from the civil service in January," Noor Hisham said.

Noor Hisham said the Health Ministry's Medical Bare Quality Section under the Medical Development Division will act as the committee's technical secretariat.

As of noon yesterday, Malaysia recorded 26 deaths from Covid-19. A total of 54 are in the intensive care unit and, of this, 34 are on ventilators.

A total of 2,161 cases have been reported and there have been 259 recoveries.

Lee (photo) had previously raised the alarm when the movement control order (MCO) sparked an exodus a day before it came into force on March 18.

Under the MCO, non-essential businesses and services are ordered to close and people are discouraged from leaving home except for pressing reasons such as to restock food supplies.

The MCO, which was initially set to end on March 31, has been extended to April 14. The move is aimed at curbing the spread of Covid-19.

In a related development, Noor Hisham said the Association of Private Hospitals of Malaysia has offered 65 more ventilators on top of the initially 51 pledged to help the Health Ministry in combating Covid-19.

"This encouraging collaboration between public and private sectors will strengthen and enhance our health system to prepare for the worst scenario.

"Indeed it’s better to be over-prepared than under-prepared. Underprepared means unprepared," he said.

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- Mkini