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PUTRAJAYA – The total number of Covid-19 patients admitted to public hospitals have risen but it has not burdened healthcare services and hospitals are operating as usual, Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said.
She said Covid-19 admissions rose 17.6% in early April compared to March, with the majority of patients being in the high risk groups, such as the elderly or those with co-morbidity.
“Most cases have light symptoms and are stable, so the situation is not concerning,” she said in a statement today.
Dr Zaliha said from early this year till last Tuesday (April 11), the case fatality tate (CFR) for Covid-19 is 0.3% compared to the Delta wave with a high CFR of 2.1%.
A total of 63.8% involved patients over 60, while 90.7% were those with co-morbidities.
“Fatalities among unvaccinated patients were six times higher than those with one booster shot,” she said.
Based on data until last Tuesday, Dr Zaliha said that only 50% or 16,325,561 Malaysians have taken their first booster shot, and 2.5% (818,420) have taken their second booster shot.
“The risk of hospital admittance and severe symptoms can be reduced with booster shots.
“Therefore the public, especially high-risk individuals, are urged to get their booster shots as there will be waning immunity in the period of three to six months from the last dose.
“My ministry will continue to monitor the Covid-19 situation along with variants here and abroad to ensure the optimum level of preparedness of the healthcare services to ensure the prosperity of Malaysians as we live with Covid-19,” she said. – Bernama, April 13, 2023