PUTRAJAYA: In tandem with the trend of Covid-19 cases going down, the Health Ministry is forecasting cases to drop to double digits by the end of May.
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the cases peaked on Jan 29 with 5,725 and today's figure sees a reduction by almost half.
He added that with the Movement Control Order (MCO) in place, the cases could drop to double digits by the end of May.
"In April, we are forecasting cases to be below 1,000 and double digits by end of May.
"Hence, I would like to remind everyone to continue observing the standard operating procedures (SOP) and stay home if there is no need to go out.
"We have to take care of ourselves, our family, the community and also the country," he said in a press conference here today.
Dr Noor Hisham also said that the Health Ministry was ready to carry out the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme as preparations for it started in August last year.
He said the authorities had prepared the necessary facilities to procure and keep the vaccines safe to carry out the programme.
The ministry will also continue its public health engagement to convince the people about the efficacies of the vaccines.
He stressed that the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) will look into phase three of the clinical trial before conditional approval is given for the vaccines.
"If there are side effects, we will be careful about it. We will take note of it.
"We will also compare the information with the side effects reported in other countries as well," he added.