KUALA LUMPUR: The Covid-19 situation in the country during the 20th epidemiology week (Epiweek) showed an improvement with a decrease in new cases and the number of patients admitted to hospital compared to the previous week, says the Health director-general.

       Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah (pic) said there was also an increase in Covid-19 recovery cases during that week.

       During Epiweek 20 (May 15-21), the number of new Covid-19 cases in the country decreased by 28.8% to 13,630 cases compared to 19,137 in the previous week, he said, adding that this brought the cumulative number of Covid-19 cases in Malaysia to 4,489,503, with 28,085 active cases.

       Meanwhile, the number of recoveries increased by 21.1% or 12,618 cases to 15,278 during that period.

       “Covid-19 death cases in Epiweek 20 showed a decrease of 29 cases compared to 33 in the previous week, bringing the cumulative number of death due to Covid-19 to 35,641,” he said yesterday.

       Meanwhile, Dr Noor Hisham said the number of Covid-19 patients admitted to health facilities, namely to public hospitals and the Quarantine and Treatment Centres (PKRCs) per 100,000 residents also dropped by 9% compared to the previous week.

       “The admission of Covid-19 patients to public hospitals per 100,000 population also decreased by 50%, involving all categories of patients,” he added. He said the usage of Covid-19 beds also dropped during Epiweek 20.

       The use of ICU beds decreased by 33%, while there was no change in the use of PKRC beds and critical beds from the 19th week to the 20th, he added.

       He said positive cases monitored by Covid-19 Assessment Centres (CAC) nationwide also showed a decline, with patient arrivals to CAC decreasing by 5.2%, and the number of new Covid-19 cases undergoing home monitoring decreasing by 26.6%.

       “The number of Covid-19 cases referred by CAC to PKRC or hospital decreased by 18.7%,” he said.

       Meanwhile, 1,119,411 or 31.5% of children aged five to 11 in the country have been fully vaccinated under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme for Children (PICKids) as of last Sunday.

       According to the CovidNow website, a total of 1,676,457 or 47.2% of the group have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

       For adolescents aged 12 to 17, a total of 2,909,585 or 93.5% are fully vaccinated, while 3,006,147 or 96.6% of the same group have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

       Meanwhile, a total of 16,080,331 or 68.3% of adults in the country have received the booster dose, with 22,972,728 or 97.6% having completed two doses, and 23,248,752 (98.8%) having received at least one dose of the vaccine.

       A total of 13,706 daily doses were dispensed on Sunday, comprising 1,264 booster shots, 7,377 second doses and 5,065 first doses, bringing the cumulative number of vaccine administration under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK) to 70,799,796.

       Meanwhile, the Health Ministry’s Github portal reported two deaths due to Covid-19 on Sunday, with one each in Selangor and Kedah.