MORE than 1.12 million Covid-19 cases, and more than 59,000 deaths were reported over the past 140 days worldwide.
The silver-lining remains the positive upward trend of recoveries with more than 230,000 cases reported to date.
These statistics from US based Johns Hopkins University and Medicine, are not far off from those made available by the World Health Organization, which (until Friday) showed more than 896,000 confirmed (72,839 new) cases, and 45,525 deaths reported.
Closer home, 150 new cases were recorded as of noon Saturday, bringing to 3,483 the cumulative number of confirmed cases, with four deaths reported.
Yet, concerns remain raised as:
- Some 3,000 individuals who attended the Seri Petaling gathering yet to undergo testing
- 40,000 people were involved in the infection chain, including those from Seri Petaling
- Covid-19 screening on 100 workers of the wholesale market in Selayang
- Some 90 quarantine centres nationwide ready to accommodate 40,000 individuals
Since the mandatory quarantine came into force on Friday, April 3, some 1,200 have been transferred to these facilities, including 711 who entered via KLIA.
These stringent measures are necessary as Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah recently said a surge in new cases is expected mid-April.
They are preparing for a worst-case scenario and any developments in days to come would help authorities decide if the present lockdown be further extended after April 14. (A decision is expected to be made on April 10.)
Besides quarantine centres, cleaning and disinfection has commenced at public places nationwide.
