Possible Selangor CMCO extension if cases rise

 

Health director-general Noor Hisham Abdullah says the rise has been consistent.

PETALING JAYA: Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah says the ministry may propose an extension of the conditional movement control order (CMCO) for Selangor if Covid-19 cases in the state continue to rise.

“If we look at the data, it is increasing consistently, so we will see, if there is an increase, we may propose (an extension).

“If suddenly, there is no increase in a week, then maybe we don’t need one,” he said, adding the ministry was monitoring the situation.

But, he said, what was clear now was that cases in Selangor were on the rise.

Today, Selangor recorded 76 new cases and one new cluster.

On the health ministry’s preparedness for the third wave of infections, Noor Hisham said the situation is challenging but they were better prepared than they were with the first wave.

So far, he said, there was no shortage of beds, medicines and personal protective equipment (PPE).

In the case of Sabah, the worst-hit state, Noor Hisham said the government has allowed the Sabah Health Department to procure what it needed on an emergency basis. “If there is a need, if they need PPEs or ventilators, they can procure them.”

Noor Hisham also said the Public Services Commission has given the greenlight for the appointment of 1,223 contract medical personnel including 624 nurses and 336 assistant medical officers among others.

On another matter, Noor Hisham said the ministry was looking into the treatment of low-risk patients at home.

Currently, he said, there was sufficient capacity at hospitals and makeshift hospitals to treat low-risk patients. “The usage is only 30%. But we are discussing this option.”

Sabah state minister Masidi Manjun said recently the state health department was advising Covid-19 patients with “manageable” symptoms to stay at home and be treated there.

Noor Hisham clarified that the advice to patients to remain at home referred to those who were awaiting results of their screening, because it could take several days for their tests results to be returned. - FMT