How Bad Is The Wave Of COVID-19 In Malaysia Right Now?
JAKARTA - Since Tuesday, June 1, Malaysia has implemented a total lockdown to deal with the sharp increase in COVID-19 cases. Day after day the data collection shows an increasingly serious situation. How severe is the current wave of COVID-19 in Malaysia?
The total lockdown will be implemented in the next two weeks. All malls are closed. There are only 17 service sectors that are allowed to operate during. These sectors include health care, telecommunications, food, beverages, utilities, banking, and media.
The government will also grant license exemptions for companies in 12 manufacturing sectors, including food and beverage manufacturing. In addition, the manufacturing sector of medical devices and textiles is also permitted to maintain the production of personal protective equipment.
"We hope that the manufacturing sector will follow the government's orders because we have given a condition that only 60 percent can work", said Malaysia's Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, quoted by The Times, Friday, June 4.
“Shopping centers should be closed. Except for supermarkets and places that sell food and drinks and basic necessities", he added.
And for the community, only two people from each household are allowed out to buy basic necessities or get medical services. That too with a 10 kilometer radius limitation.
Malaysia breaks record for highest COVID-19 death
One day after the lockdown was imposed, Malaysia again set a record high on daily death toll since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Wednesday, June 2, 126 Malaysians died. The previous worst record was recorded on May 29, where 98 people died.
As reported by Channel News Asia, Director General of Health Noor Hisham Abdullah said there were three foreign nationals among the 123 people. The victims were aged 29 to 98 years, most of whom had a history of diabetes and high blood pressure.
In total, per day, the number of deaths due to COVID-19 in Malaysia reached 2.993 people. And according to the Ministry of Health's report, among all the latest deaths, ten of them occurred without the patient being treated at a health facility.
The health system in Malaysia is now starting to get overwhelmed. As of Thursday, June 3, there were 878 COVID-19 patients being treated in the intensive care unit, of which 441 needed respiratory assistance.
Nationally, Malaysia recorded 587.165 cases of COVID-19, of which 82.274 were active. A total of 22 new clusters were also identified. Four of the new clusters were triggered by household visits during the festive season in Penang, Kedah, Perak, and Kuala Lumpur.
80 thousand children were infected.
Another note from the Malaysian COVID-19 wave this time is the outbreak of 82 thousand children. Malaysian Health Minister Adham Baba, in Bernama's report, described the latest data recorded on Monday, May 31.
There are 18.851 children under the age of four, 8.237 children aged five to six years, and 26.85 children in the age range of seven to 12 years. Meanwhile, at the age of 13 to 17 years, the authorities recorded 27.402 cases.
"No one is in the intensive care unit (ICU)", Adham told a news conference.
Based on this figure, Adham appealed to parents or guardians to pay more attention to children, including avoiding them from crowds. From the government side, Adham said the government would expand screening and antigen testing.
What about Indonesian citizens in Malaysia?
Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia Hermono said there were 831 Indonesian citizens who were confirmed positive for COVID-19 in Malaysia at this time. Even so, Hermono warned, his party predicts the actual number could be higher: between 1.200 to 1.300.
"We have received 831 data, but my estimate is 1.200 to 1.300 because it has not been reported to us", he said, quoted by CNBC Indonesia, Friday, June 4.
Hermono explained the mechanism for reporting COVID-19 in Malaysia, where reports will be directly recorded in the Ministry of Health's data. Without a report from the Ministry of Health, the Indonesian Embassy cannot know for sure the number.
What is clear, according to Hermono, is that the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur has prepared a number of steps to deal with this situation. The steps in question include how to support the economy of the migrant workers affected by the total lockdown.
"The Indonesian Embassy is ready to anticipate if we need to distribute assistance to people affected by COVID-19", Hermono said.
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