KUALA LUMPUR: Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah today expressed concern over the rise in the number of Covid-19 fatalities in the country this year.
The cumulative number of Covid-19 deaths reported to the ministry within the first nine days of the year has reached 71, which is a significant jump compared to less than 100 fatalities recorded during the first nine months of 2020.
"I fear the worst is yet to come," said Dr Noor Hisham in a reply in the comment section of his Facebook account.
In a Facebook post, Dr Noor Hisham also shared the challenges faced by health frontliners in managing the burial rites for those who died from Covid-19.
"It is not an easy task for the health frontliners to manage the remains of patients who died from Covid-19.
"Under the hot sun, they (health and medical staff) would be drenched in sweat since they are required to don complete personal protective equipment (PPE) until the remains of Covid-19 patients are laid to rest and the burial rites concluded.
"I hope all of us understand the odds and challenges faced by all frontliners. Let us all help (to control the spread of Covid-19 in) the country by continuing to embrace the 'Kita Jaga Kita', 'Kita Jaga Keluarga' spirits.
"May all of us be protected from the fury of Covid-19," he said.