PETALING JAYA: The capacity of Virtual Covid-19 Assessment Centres (VCAC) to monitor home quarantine cases will be increased in lieu of the spike in infections.

       Health deputy director-general (public health) and National Rapid Response Task Force (RRTF) co-chairman Datuk Dr Chong Chee Kheong, in a statement Friday (Feb 11), said that currently the VCAC was monitoring 100,000 patients, compared to the 30,000 cases three weeks ago.

       "The Ministry will increase surveillance capacity to 200,000 individuals by next week.

       "While vaccinations are not the exit to this crisis, it has helped prevent worse symptoms and reduced its impact.

       "All states have been ordered to increase vaccination to bring more focus on students and booster shots," he said.

       According to the Health Ministry, while cases have skyrocketed, with 20,939 recorded on Friday, the situation was much different than last year.

       "As a comparison, on Aug 11, 2021, the country recorded 20,780 cases with 2,928 patients warded. Of that, 1,547 were warded in ICUs and 332 deaths were recorded.

       "On Feb 11 (Friday) cases jumped to 20,939 but at the same time, data shows that only 1,637 cases were warded.

       "Of that, 158 cases were warded in ICUs and there have been less than 10 deaths recorded," he said.

       He added that the high vaccination rate and booster shots were key factors that contributed to the more manageable situation.