PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia is set to experience a "new wave" of Covid-19 if cases continue to increase, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said.
Dr Noor Hisham said this after Malaysia recorded its second highest daily positive cases at 260 with four new clusters detected in Kedah, Sabah, Selangor and Putrajaya since the last highest on June 4.
"If we look at the chart, we have an increase in cases lately. That probably is the beginning of a new wave.
"However, the onus is on us whether we can flatten the curve again.
"You can see the cases are increasing. If we can come together, we can make the impossible possible. We have done that before and we are going to do it again," he said when asked about the ministry's projection on the country's Covid-19 cases would be at its highest.
On the Covid-19 virus from the Benteng LD cluster in Sabah, Dr Noor Hisham said the viruses there had the D614G mutation strain that originated from Indonesia and the Philippines.
He said it was detected based on a research done by the Institute of Medical Research (IMR).
"We have done research on the virus strain from the Benteng LD cluster in Sabah and the strain is also D614G however, it comes from Indonesia and the Philippines.
"The strain came from the same group such as (those found in) the Sivagangga cluster, Tawar cluster, Sungai cluster in Kedah, but they had different characteristics. We think that the infection rate has increased a little when compared to the previous strain.
"What is crucial now is to continue (following) public health practices," he told reporters oday.
Dr Noor Hisham previously said the Covid-19 D614G mutation was found to be 10 times more infectious leading to the virus being easily spread by a person known as a super spreader under the Sivangangga cluster.
On those who flouted the Recovery Movement Control Order's (RMCO) standard operating procedures (SOP), Dr Noor Hisham advised those who had been compounded for violating the SOP such as patronising pubs and nightclubs, and failure to practise physical distancing, to seek treatment if they display any Covid-19 symptoms.
"We advise them to come forward if they have any symptoms," he said.
Dr Noor Hisham also reiterated his advice to the public to stay at home if they had no urgent matters to take care of outside.