Surge in Selangor cases due to detection and screening activities, says health minister

The recent surge in daily Covid-19 cases in Selangor is due to active detection and screening activities in areas under enhanced movement control order (EMCO), says Health Minister Dr Adham Baba.

He said 25,005 screenings were conducted on July 6 compared to 19,614 on July 5, and that tests were further increased in the following days.

“Yesterday, Selangor recorded 4,400 cases and 4,152 on July 8. From this data, we see more contact tracing activities and screenings in EMCO areas. Public health activities are expected in EMCO areas, hence the increased screenings,” he said at a press conference on the health ministry’s strategies to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic in the Klang Valley today.

He said detection and screening activities must be actively implemented in EMCO areas to prevent and stop the spread of Covid-19.

Those who test positive are isolated and treated according to infection category, with patients in Category Four and Five – those with pneumonia and in need of oxygen and respiratory assistance – sent to hospital for intensive care.

Adham said contact tracing must be carried out to detect asymptomatic individuals so that they can be isolated from the community, and to prevent continuous transmission.

“The virus incubation period is 14 days but with the new variant it can be up to 21 days. So in the 14 days we will see an increase in activities to detect, trace and screen,” he said.

As the screenings are also to detect asymptomatic cases, he said, there would be an upward trend before any drop, as positive cases are isolated and treated.

Apart from monitoring daily case numbers, he said, the rate of vaccination was also important as it could reduce hospital admissions and fatalities.

He said the health ministry had decided to implement vaccination in areas placed under EMCO nationwide, after those who test positive have been isolated.

“The EMCO period is 14 days, so during this time health workers will conduct screenings. Those who test negative will be given their vaccination appointment date. They must get vaccinated as soon as possible after the EMCO is over,” he said.

He also said that the outsourcing of non-Covid patients to private or district hospitals is underway, in a bid to increase hospital bed capacity in the Klang Valley for Covid-19 treatment.