Covid-19: Doctor sheds light on possible scenario during mitigation phase

CORONAVIRUS | Malaysia is currently in the late containment stage of the Covid-19 outbreak before it enters the last phase – mitigation.

Public health physician from the Ministry of Health’s disease control division Dr Badrul Hisham Abd Samad (photo) has shed some light on the possible scenario during the mitigation phase of the virus.

Badrul Hisham cited the mitigation measures taken by Malaysia during the spread of the H1N1 virus in 2009. At the time, hospitals could not handle the high number of cases.

During the mitigation phase, aggressive and extensive tracking of persons under investigation (PUI) was no longer implemented, as well as screening at international borders, he said.

Focus was instead given to those who were at a higher risk such as those who suffered from chronic lung and kidney problems.

“When they came with H1N1 symptoms at the time, they were admitted to hospital and administered with the Tamiflu antiviral medicine.

“I believe the same thing will happen when we enter the mitigation phase in which there will be less efforts done by health workers on the ground and instead, focus will be given to those at a higher risk,” he said in a Selamat Pagi Malaysia slot with RTM yesterday.

Those at a higher risk should they contract Covid-19 are the elderly as well as those who suffer from cardiac diseases, diabetes and hypertension.

Treatment that could be administered includes the antiviral medicine Kaletra which is used to treat HIV patients. The medicine seemed to have given good results for patients who had earlier shown serious complications due to Covid-19.

Badrul Hisham, however, believes that the country would be able to overcome the situation involving the virus, citing the situation in China which has shown how 50 percent of patients having recovered.

“With the cooperation of not just the Health Ministry, but the private sector and all Malaysians as well, God willing we will be able to overcome Covid-19,” he said.

Malaysia has recorded its third consecutive day of three-digit increase in Covid-19 cases, bringing the total tally to 673, according to Health Minister Adham Baba.

Adham said 120 new cases were recorded as of noon today. Of this, 95 cases were traced to the cluster of infection from a tabligh gathering at the Sri Petaling Mosque in Kuala Lumpur.

Two patients on ventilators who were in the intensive care unit (ICU), however, have passed away. They were the first deaths of Covid-19 in the country.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had announced the Movement Control Order which would start tomorrow until March 31.

The limit on public movement in a bid to curb the Covid-19 outbreak includes the closing of schools and private premises.

However, essential services, supermarkets, wet markets, grocery shops and convenience stores will remain open and accessible. - Mkini