WHO expects Malaysia's COVID-19 cases to peak in mid-April

The number of COVID-19 cases in Malaysia is expected to peak in mid-April and there are signs of a flattening of the infection curve, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on April 2.
WHO expects Malaysia's COVID-19 cases to peak in mid-April ảnh 1People in Malaysia are seen wearing face masks (Photo: VNA)
Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – The number ofCOVID-19 cases in Malaysia is expected to peak in mid-April and there are signsof a flattening of the infection curve, the World Health Organisation (WHO)said on April 2.

Based on available data, the WHO CountryOffice has projected that Malaysia will see a peak in hospitalised cases inmid-April, said Ying-Ru Lo, the WHO's head of mission and representative toMalaysia, Brunei and Singapore.

The number of critically ill patients isestimated to reach the peak within the next week, she added.

Malaysia has the highest number of knowninfections in Southeast Asia with 2,908 confirmed cases, including 45 deaths.

Furthermore, the Malaysian government hasset up a special Cabinet committee to develop strategic measures to safeguardthe country’s economy and labour market impacted by COVID-19.

The committee will be co-chaired by Ministerof International Trade and Industry Mohamed Azmin Ali and Minister of DefenceIsmail Sabri Yaakob.

Its aim is to strike a balance between thenation’s economic priorities and the effective enforcement of the movementcontrol order (MCO).

The committee will also deliberate onmeasures to sustain Malaysia’s economic engines, particularly the small andmedium enterprises (SMEs), during the MCO and ensure effective mitigationefforts in addressing displacement of labour force among Malaysians.

Meanwhile, a total of 26 individuals including12 foreigners were fined 1,000 ringgit (240 USD) each by the Ipoh magistrate’scourt in Perak state on April 2, for failing to adhere to the MCO. They have toserve three months in jail if they do not pay the fines./.
VNA

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