COVID-19 cases may increase drastically if R0 exceeds 1.6 - Health DG

Malaysia may see a surge in the number of new COVID-19 cases soon if the infectivity rate or R-naught (R0) exceeds 1.6.

Voicing his worry, Health Director-General Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the current R0 had increased to 1.36 compared to 0.3 during the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) which ended on June 9.

He said, this followed the increase in the number of cases as well as new clusters recently.

"The number of active cases with the infectivity rare on July 9 was 63, and today, there is an increase of 143.

"If the R-naught (R0) rises, we are worried that this means there are many who will be infected. What is dangerous is if the R-naught exceeds 1.6," he said in a press conference here today