Govt to evaluate existing strategies in tackling surge of COVID-19 cases

MUAR: The government will evaluate and refine existing strategies in the fight against COVID-19 to determine it they are still effective in tackling the surge in daily cases, which has now breached the 20,000 mark.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in expressing his concern over the increase in cases said, the matter would be discussed at the special session of the National Security Council (MKN) which he would chair this Monday.

"We will discuss again this Monday ... especially on the badly affected areas in the Greater Klang Valley which covers the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor as well as several other states which have recorded an increase.

"We will look into details as to why this (increase) is happening. We will evaluate if the measures taken are no longer effective... and should we need to improve screening and testing and conduct more contact tracing," he told reporters when met at Sungai Raya sub-district administration office in Bukit Pasir, here today.

"In addition, we will also look into the challenges and internal problems faced by the Ministry of Health (MOH) including the issue over the need for staff, medicines and equipment such as oxygen tanks.

"So there are several specific issues to be looked into but I wish to inform that I have given full authority to the MOH, especially the committees involved to do whatever is necessary in certain matters without having to refer to me.

"And it is up to them to decide even if it involves expenses because a big portion of the budget allocation has been allocated to the MOH and Greater Klang Valley Special Committee ... the budget can be used, I don't think there is a problem," he said.

Muhyiddin, who is also Pagoh MP said based on MOH data, most of the COVID-19 cases are in categories one and two while only 1.2 per cent fall under the more severe categories three, four and five.

However, he said the important thing was to ensure that the existing hospitals are able to provide intensive care units and other facilities to accommodate the increasing number of cases.

Yesterday, Malaysia recorded 20,596 new COVID-19 cases with Selangor registering the highest number at 8,549, followed by Kuala Lumpur with 2,163 and Kedah 1,446 cases.

-- BERNAMA