KUALA LUMPUR: The occupancy rate of intensive care unit (ICU) beds in Putrajaya, Labuan and nine other states was below 50% as of Wednesday.
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the nine states were Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Terengganu, Sabah and Sarawak.
“However, five states showed utilisation rates of over 50%, namely Kelantan at 83%, Kuala Lumpur and Johor (65%), Melaka (58%) and Perlis (55%).
“For non-ICU beds, 12 states showed over 50% occupancy rates,” he said in a statement, according to Bernama.
These states are Kelantan (101%), Selangor (97%), Perak (90%), Kuala Lumpur (87%), Perlis (81%), Putrajaya (77%), Johor (75%), Pahang and Sabah (71%), Penang, Terengganu and Sarawak (52%).
Dr Noor Hisham said overall, each state was prepared with a quick response plan in the event of an increase in cases requiring admission to Covid-19 Low-Risk Quarantine and Treatment Centres (PKRC), hospitals and ICUs.
He also said 31,199 new cases were reported on Wednesday, bringing the total cumulative number to 3,305,157.
Of the new cases, 1,804 required hospital admission. Also, 194 cases or 0.62% were in Categories 3, 4 and 5 while 31,005 cases or 99.38% were in Categories 1 and 2.
Of those with serious symptoms, 153 or 78.87% were either unvaccinated, had not completed their vaccination or had yet to receive a booster dose.
Dr Noor Hisham also said there were 20,399 recoveries, bringing the cumulative number to 2,994,840.
He said individuals who had not received the vaccine and had never been infected with Covid-19 were most at risk.
“These individuals are advised to immediately register and get the vaccine. Those who have registered should keep to their appointment to protect themselves and their loved ones.
“The ministry will continue to monitor the development of infections in the country and abroad through information obtained from the World Health Organisation,” he said, adding that preventive and control measures would be implemented continuously.