By Nazifa Ramailan
KUALA LUMPUR, 1 January 2022: With the current deadly Delta and Omicron variants, COVID-19 cases are most likely to upsurge in 2022.
Director-General of World Health Organisation (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned the Delta and Omicron variants will probably trigger new deadly wave of infections, which might overwhelm the healthcare systems in 2022.
The recent global data presented that COVID-19 is becoming even more outrageous and deadly especially in the United States (US) and European continent, following the Delta and Omicron variants mutation with total cases exceeding 285 million and over five million deaths across the globe.
WHO reported that 4.99 million new COVID-19 cases were recorded from 20 to 26 December 2021 alone. In the meantime, according to the data compiled by foreign newswire AFP, 6.51 million new cases were reported between 22 and 28 December worldwide.
Several countries announced stricter standard operating procedures (SOPs) to curb the virus outbreak following the WHO warning. Saudi Arabia re-imposed the requirement of face masks and physical distancing measures for Umrah pilgrims at the Masjidil Haram and Nabawi mosque.
Omicron variant forced Brunei to remove all countries under the Travel Green List starting 1 January (today).
Those who return from Umrah pilgrimage are instructed to wear digital tracking devices. Before this, visitors coming from 18 high-risk COVID-19 countries are also required to wear digital trackers throughout their home surveillance and quarantine periods.
Australia, the United States, United Kingdom, Norway, France, Denmark, Canada, Nigeria, India, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Malawi are those of high-risk COVID-19 nations.
On 30 December, Malaysia’s new COVID-19 cases have exceeded 3,000 levels with 3,997 cases recorded, bringing the cumulative figure to 2,754,513.
Active COVID-19 cases with possibilities of infection stood at 45,983 as of 30 December and another 34 fatalities were registered on the same day, bringing the total cumulative figure to 31,462.
The imported cases escalated to three-digit numbers during the period under review. The breakdown figures breakdown is summarised as below:
December 25 ― 156 (150 citizens; 6 non-citizens);
December 26 ― 129 (124 citizens; 5 non-citizens);
December 27 ― 163 (151 citizens; 12 non-citizens);
December 28 ― 192 (178 citizen; 14 non-citizens);
December 29 ― 239 (219 citizens; 20 non-citzens);
December 30 ― 366 (335 citizens; 31 non-citizens).
Four imported clusters involving umrah pilgrims have been detected by Ministry of Health (MoH). In Johor, Serom 5 Hilir Tangkak Saudi cluster was reported on 27 December and Jalan Permatang Enam Saudi cluster was identified on 29 December.
Another two Saudi clusters were found in Pahang; December ― Jengka 25 Saudi cluster and December 28 ― Keratong 5 Saudi cluster.
Meanwhile, 442 positive cases among flood victims were identified by MoH and 15 new cases at the temporary flood relief centres (PPS).
New daily cases for the week are sum up as below:
December 25 (3,160), December 26 (2,778), December 27 (2,757), December 28 (2,897), December 29 (3,683) and December 30 (3,997).
From the list of 222 nations/territories struck by the COVID-19 pandemic, Malaysia is at 21st place with the cumulative figure of 2,754,523 behind the Philippines (2,841,260) and the Netherlands (3,116,039).
“Of 3997 new cases on December 30, only 64 (1.6 per cent) were categories 3, 4 and 5; while 3,933 (98.4 per cent) were categories 1 and 2,” said Director General of Health, Tan Sri Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah.
About 3,984 recovery cases were recorded on December 30, making the total recovered cases to 2,681,390 (97.3 per cent).
From the total of 213 coronavirus patients warded at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on the same date, 77 cases required respiratory assistance.
On a side note, the Ro/rt value remains below 1.00. The following is the Ro/Rt during the week under review:
December 25 (0.88), December 26 (0.90), December 27 (0.93), December 28 (0.93), December 29 (0.95 ) and December 30 (0.98).
The highest Ro/Rt value was recorded by Kelantan (1.05) whilst Terengganu stood at 1.01 and Melaka at 0.98.
Other developments in the country
On 30 December, the total active cases with infection probabilities stood at 45,983 and the breakdown of the figures is shown as below:
Home quarantine ― 38,844 (84.5 per cent);
Covid-19 Quarantine and Treatment Centre (PKRC) ― 3,326 (7.2 per cent);
Hospitals ― 3,532 (7.7 per cent);
Intensive Care Unit (ICU) without respiratory assistance (ABP) ― 126 (0.3 per cent);
ICU and needed ABP ― 155 (0.3 per cent).
Meanwhile, the state-by-state breakdown for the total new daily cases of 3,997 recorded on 30 December is as follows:
Three digits ― Johor 397 (+36), Kelantan 192 (+49), Melaka 246 (+8), Negri Sembilan 229 (+10), Pahang 220 (+6), Perak 191 (+18), Penang 254 (+74), Sabah 362 (+63), Sarawak 220 (+23), Selangor 910 (+55), Terengganu 200 (+7) and Kuala Lumpur 148 (+13).
Two digits ― Kedah 24, Perlis 21 (+4) and Putrajaya (10).
One digit ― Labuan (10).
The total new clusters detected is 25 during this week, in which most of the clusters were linked to workplace (13.52 per cent).
The breakdown of the active COVID-19 cases are shown as below:
December 25 (45,591), December 26 (44,815), December 27 (42,917), December 28 (42,357), December 29 (41,682) and December 30 (45,983).
On the other hand, the following is the breakdown of COVID-19 patients categorisation:
Of 3,160 daily cases reported on December 25;
― 66 (2.1 per cent) were categories 3, 4 and 5;
― 3,094 (97.9 per cent) were categories 1 and 2.
Of 2,778 daily cases reported on December 26;
― 60 (2.2 per cent) were categories 3, 4 and 5; and
― 2,718 (97.8 per cent) were categories 1 and 2.
Of 2,757 daily cases reported on December 27;
― 40 (1.5 per cent) were categories 3, 4 and 5; and 2,717 (98.5 per cent) were categories 1 and 2.
Of 2,897 daily cases reported on December 28;
― 50 (1.7 per cent) were categories 3, 4 and 5; and
― 2,847 (98.3 per cent) were categories 1 and 2.
Of 3,683 daily cases reported on December 29;
― 56 (1.5 per cent) were categories 3, 4 and 5; and 3,627 (98.5 per cent) were categories 1 and 2.
Of 3,997 daily cases reported on December 30;
― 64 (1.6 per cent) were categories 3, 4 and 5; and
― 3,933 (98.4 per cent) were categories 1 and 2.
Below is the recovered cases during the week under review:
December 25 (4,421), December 26 (3,539), December 27 (4,620), December 28 (3,434), December 29 (4,322) and December 30 (3,984).
The daily breakdown of new cases, local transmissions and other related issues starting from 25 December until 30 December are summarised as below:
December 25 ― New cases: 3,160 (cumulative 2,738,401); Imported cases: 156 (150 citizens; 6 non-citizens); Local transmission: 3,004 kes [2,877 citizens (95.8 per cent); 127 non-citizen (4.2 per cent)];
December 26 ― New cases: 2,778 (cumulative 2,741,179) Imported cases: 129 (124 citizens; 5 non-citizens); Local transmission: 2,649 [2,532 citizens (95.6 per cent); 117 non-citizens (4.4 per cent)];
December 27 ― New cases: 2,757 (cumulative 2,743,936); Imported cases: 163 (151 citizens; 12 non-citizens); Local transmission: 2,594 [2,502 citizens (96.5 per cent); 92 non-citizens (3.5 per cent)];
December 28 ― New cases: 2,897 (cumulative 2,746,833); Imported cases: 192 (178 citizens; 14 non-citizens); Local transmission: 2,705 [2,577 citizens (95.3 per cent); 128 non-citizens (4.7 per cent)];
December 29 ― New cases: 3,683 (cumulative 2,750,516); Imported cases: 239 (219 citizens; 20 non-citizens); Local transmission: 3,444 [3,325 citizens (96.5 per cent); 119 non-citizens (3.5 per cent)];
December 30 ― New cases: 3,997 (cumulative 2,754,513); Imported cases: 366 (335 citizens; 31 non-citizens); Local transmission: 3,631 [3,516 citizens (96.8 per cent); 115 non-citizens (3.2 per cent)].
The following is the daily breakdown in fatalities:
*BID = Brought-in-Dead are cases outside the hospital and those brought to the hospital’s forensic department; positive Covid-19 cases after PT PCR tests conducted.
December 25 ― 25 (BID 4), December 26 – 19 (BID 3), December 27 – 35 (BID 6), December 28 – 23 (BID 4), December 29 – 36 (BID 2) and December 30 – 34 (BID 11).
*31,462 cases of total fatalities are reported as of December 30.
New clusters recorded are as below:
December 25 ― 3 clusters (workplace 2 and high-risk 1);
December 26 ― 2 clusters (workplace 2);
December 27 ― 7 clusters (workplace 3, community 3 and imported 1);
* imported cluster – Serom 5 Hilir Tangkak Saudi (Johor) cluster.
Dec 28 – 4 clusters (community 1, education 1, imported 1 and high-risk 1);
* imported cluster – Jengka 25 Saudi (Pahang) cluster.
Dec 29 – 6 clusters (workplace 4 and imported 2).
* imported cluster – Keratong 5 Saudi (Pahang) cluster.
* imported cluster – Jalan Permatang Enam Saudi (Johor) cluster.
Dec 30 – 3 clusters (workplace 2 and community 1).
Global COVID-19 statistics
A total of 286,858,755 COVID-19 cases are reported by Worldometer globally while 5,445,958 cases for fatalities. Recovered cases meanwhile are recorded at 253,158,707.
COVID-19 pandemic has affected 222 nations and the countries that are in the top 10 are:
US 55,246,781 (845,737 deaths)
India 34,837,710 (480,860 deaths)
Brazil 22,277,239 (619,024 deaths)
UK 12,748,050 (148,421 deaths)
Russia 10,479,344 (307,948 deaths)
France 9,740,600 (123,552 deaths)
Turkey 9,441,764 (82,198 deaths)
Germany 7,142,982 (112,512 deaths)
Spain 6,294,745 (89,405 deaths)
Iran 6,192,698 (131,572 deaths
Besides Malaysia, other South East Asian countries with more than 100,000 cases are:
Indonesia in 14th spot – 4,262,540 cases (144,088 deaths)
Philippines 20th – 2,841,260 cases (51,373 deaths)
Thailand 24th – 2,223,435 cases (21,698 deaths)
Vietnam 31st – 1,714.742 cases (32,168 deaths)
Myanmar 65th – 530,645 cases (19,265 deaths)
Singapore 88th – 279,061 cases (827 deaths)
Cambodia 110th – 120,487 cases (3,012 deaths)
Laos 112th – 110,054 cases (360 deaths)
Brunei 167th – 15,470 cases (98 deaths)
COVID-19 background
Pneumonia cases were detected in Wuhan on 31 December 2019 by the World Health Organisation’s China. The Chinese authorities then confirmed the newly detected novel coronavirus can be transmitted from human to human on 7 January 2020.
Coronaviruses are a part of viruses that can cause illnesses including common cold or even worse, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-COV).
China health officials identified the source of the coronavirus transmission came from the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan.
WHO announced the official name of the virus on February 11, 2020. COVID-19 is the acronym for coronavirus 2019 ― CO stands for corona, VI for virus and D for disease.
On 30 January 2020, coronavirus outbreak was declared as global emergency by WHO while COVID-19 was declared a pandemic on March 11.
The first COVID-19 cases in Malaysia were detected on January 25, 2020, after three Chinese citizens were tested positive for the disease.
In September 2020, the United Kingdom detected new variants of COVID-19 (identified as B117) while October 2020 saw another emergence of variants in South Africa (501Y.V2) and India (B.1.617).
Malaysia’s COVID-19 cases marked its 1 million on 25 July with 1,013,438 cumulative cases. Meanwhile, 13 July saw the first time daily cases reached the five-digit level with 11,079 cases.
The most recent COVID-19 variant, Omicron, that was detected on 26 November 2020 becomes the biggest concern as of today. The first case involving Omicron variant was discovered in Gauteng Province, South Africa.***
Source(s): Malay Mail and Bernama