KUALA LUMPUR: The Covid-19 pandemic is not over yet and the people should not take lightly the precautions in place to avert the spread of the virus, which is now at a higher transmissibility rate due to the presence of the Omicron sub variant.
That was the reminder from Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali as he expressed concern over the sudden surge of new cases as well as admissions to health facilities nationwide.
"In the last few days, there has been an increase in admissions to hospitals and Covid-19 quarantine and treatment centres. Ventilator usage and occupancy of intensive care units are also up. Thankfully, deaths are still in the single digit.
"Our R-naught (infectivity rate) in the 29th epidemiological week was at 1.12, which means the spread is now faster. This is compounded by the presence of the Omicron's BA.4 and BA.5 sub variants in the country.
"The people must continue to follow the Covid-19 standard operating procedures," he said after launching the three-day Congress of Society of Endoscopic and Laparoscopic Surgeons of Malaysia, here.
He also advised adults to take their booster shots while eligible children should get their third vaccine jab.
To date, only 50 per cent of children in the country have been vaccinated against the virus, he said.
"Parents should agree to have their children get the third vaccine shot. This additional shot will strengthen their body's immunity," he added.
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the Covid-19 Vaccine Technical Working Committee had recommended that moderate or severely immunocompromised children aged 5 to 17 be given the third dose as part of their primary series.
He said this was because studies abroad revealed that the effectiveness of the vaccine preventing hospital admissions among young people dropped between 42 and 73 per cent within five to 10 months after their second doses.
The group, he said, will be given a first booster after receiving the three doses.