CARE HOMES

– Gong Ming Care Centre, Kulai, Johor

According to the Health Ministry, up to yesterday, 22 cases were detected at a care home at Jalan Sri Putri, Taman Putri, Kulai, Johor.

The index case is a 92-year-old man and was detected on Feb 15 through symptomatic screening.

On Feb 18, 21 others tested positive for Covid-19, including one foreigner.

The ministry did not name the care home, but Gong Ming Care Centre is a care home registered with the Welfare Department, located on Jalan Sri Putri, Taman Putri.

– Sibu Benevolent Society nursing home, Sibu, Sarawak

The Sibu Benevolent Society vice-chairperson Robert Chew confirmed with Malaysiakini that eight of its residents and two staff members had tested positive for Covid-19 recently.

The cases are linked to the Mas Merah cluster, he added.

He explained that the nursing home has been closed to visits from the public since last year.

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BUSINESSES

– Aki Sushi Restaurant, Plaza 333, Penampang, Sabah

Covid-19 cases were detected at this restaurant, according to a notice by neighbouring supermarket Pick N Pay.

Pick N Pay said it was advised by the Health Ministry to close for disinfection and to quarantine all staff after cases were detected at Aki Sushi.

The cases are believed to be part of the Lot Tujuh cluster announced by the Health Ministry yesterday, involving a restaurant at Lot 7, Majukota Commercial Centre, Penampang.

– A services company at Jalan DPB 3, Port Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), Johor Bahru, Johor

A total of 41 cases have been detected here up to Feb 18, the Health Ministry said.

The index case was detected on Feb 18 through symptomatic screening, the ministry said.

It did not identify the company.

Meanwhile, Malaysiakini understands that up to Feb 3, one PTP employee and 27 contract workers at the port tested positive for Covid-19.

This is according to a notice issued by management to employees, sighted by Malaysiakini.

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MARKETS

– Taman Rejang and Taman Damai Markets, Sibu

According to the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee, individuals who later tested positive for Covid-19 visited the Taman Rejang Market at 7.57am – 8.15am on Feb 11 and the Taman Damai Market 8.13am – 8.30am on Feb 11, respectively.

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GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS

– Sri Aman Post Office, Sarawak

An individual who later tested positive for Covid-19 visited this post office from 9.30am to 9.50am on Feb 15, the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee said.

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RESIDENCES

– Sunway Geo Residences, Subang Jaya, Selangor

A resident here tested positive for Covid-19 today, the management said in a notice to residents sighted by Malaysiakini.

Sanitation has been done in affected areas, it said.

– Kampung Jawek, Besut, Terengganu

A resident here is the index case of the Kampung Jawek cluster, which has nine cases, up to Feb 18, the Health Ministry said.

– Idaman Sutera, Medan Idaman, Kuala Lumpur

A resident tested positive for Covid-19, the management said in a notice to residents dated Feb 17.

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– Various localities in Kota Tinggi, Johor

Below are the localities where Covid-19 cases were detected yesterday, according to the Kota Tinggi Health Office:

• Taman Sayong Pinang
• Taman Sri Saujana
• Taman Desa Impian
• Taman Pasak Indah
• Bandar Mas
• Felda Linggiu
• Felda Sungai Sayong
• Felda Pasir Raja
• Felda Air Tawar 5
• Kampung Baru Felda Pasak

– Various locations in Kelantan

Kota Bharu:

• Taman Desa Mardhiah
• Kampung Belukar
• Kampung Pulau Raja
• Jalan Sungai Keladi
• Nilam Puri
• Taman Damai Perdana
• Kampung Renek
• Jalan Jaya Setia
• Jalan Taska Al Mardiah
• Jalan Taman Masrul
• Kampung Tua Lang
• Kampung Sungai Budor
• Tunjong

Tanah Merah:

• Taman Sri Cempaka
• Kampung Malai
• Kampung Kenerak
• Kampung Banggol Jering

Kuala Krai:

• Ladang Kuala Pertang
• Kampung Telekong
• Taman Krai
• Jalan TNB
• Sungai Durian

Bachok:

• Beris Lalang
• Kampung Alor Bakat
• Kampung Banggol Pauh

Others:

• Kampung Bharu, Chetok, Pasir Mas
• Taman Desa SBJ Putra, Tumpat
• Jalan SK Cina Poey Sit, Machang

Source : Malaysiakini

The Health Ministry today reported 2,936 new Covid-19 cases as of noon today, and 13 deaths.

The number of patients discharged (4,899) continued to outpace the number of new patients for a fifth straight day, leading to fewer active cases.

There was a small spike in new cases in Johor, which had 304 more new cases than yesterday.

Active cases: 36,797

Patients in ICU: 220

Intubated: 104https://e.infogram.com/c357e60c-0ab3-4663-8f6c-8589121c6f59?parent_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.malaysiakini.com%2Fnews%2F563619&src=embed#async_embed

Deaths

Of the 13 deaths today, six were from Kuala Lumpur, followed by Selangor (3), Sarawak (2), Malacca (1), and Johor (1).

All fatalities were above the age of 50, with the oldest being 84-years-old.

One of the victims was already dead when brought to a hospital.

One of the deceased was a non-citizen.
https://e.infogram.com/c8a28e8e-d511-48c1-bc1b-3eec0f7c699a?parent_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.malaysiakini.com%2Fnews%2F563619&src=embed#async_embed

Clusters

There were 13 new clusters, while eight existing clusters were declared over.

Total active clusters currently stand at 511.

Three clusters had more than triple digit cases namely Jalan Murni 12 (339), Jalan Perindustrian Pelepas (179), and Industri Tekstil Nilai (113).

Details of the new clusters are as follows:

Kompleks Perabut cluster
District(s): Kuala Langat, Selangor
Locality/Source: Kompleks Perabut, Kampung Olak Lempit, Banting
Cluster category: Workplace (factory)
First case: Feb 19, targeted screening
Total infected: 21 out of 287 screened

Jalan Sementa cluster
District(s): Petaling, Selangor
Locality/Source: Jalan Sementa, Seksyen 27, Shah Alam
Cluster category: Workplace (factory)
First case: Feb 17, targeted screening
Total infected: 12 out of 115 screened

Jalan Murni 12 cluster
District(s): Kulai, Johor
Locality/Source: Jalan Murni 12, Taman Perindustrian Murni
Cluster category: Workplace (factory)
First case: Feb 19, targeted screening
Total infected: 339 out of 3,584 screened

Jalan Kota Murni cluster
District(s): Batu Pahat, Johor
Locality/Source: Jalan Kota Murni, Taman Industri Kota Murni
Cluster category: Workplace (services)
First case: Feb 19, targeted screening
Total infected: 12 out of 27 screened

Jalan Indah Utama cluster
District(s): Kulai, Johor Bahru, and Kota Tinggi, Johor
Locality/Source: Jalan Indah Utama, Bandar Putra, Kulai
Cluster category: Workplace (lodging)
First case: Feb 15, index case with symptoms
Total infected: 23 out of 38 screened

Jalan Tun Mutahir cluster
District(s): Kota Tinggi, Johor
Locality/Source: Jalan Tun Mutahir, Kawasan Perindustrian Bandar Tenggara
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Feb 16, index case with symptoms
Total infected: out of screened

Parit Haji Khamis cluster
District(s): Batu Pahat, Johor
Locality/Source: Jalan Parit Haji Khamis, Mukim Simpang Kanan
Cluster category: Workplace (factory)
First case: Feb 9, index case with symptoms
Total infected: 9 out of 54 screened

Kejatau cluster
District(s): Sri Aman, Sarawak
Locality/Source: Jalan Kejatau
Cluster category: Workplace (public administration)
First case: Feb 19, index case with symptoms
Total infected: 7 out of 92 screened

Jalan Green cluster
District(s): Kuching, Sarawak
Locality/Source: Jalan Green
Cluster category: Community
First case: Detainees screening
Total infected: 6 out of 148 screened

Jalan Kuchai cluster
District(s): Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur
Locality/Source: Jalan Kuchai Lama
Cluster category: Workplace (factory)
First case: Feb 19, targeted screening
Total infected: 14 out of 365 screened

Singgahmata cluster
District(s): Lahad Datu, Sabah
Locality/Source: Jalan Singgahmata
Cluster category: Workplace (service centre)
First case: Feb 13, index case with symptoms
Total infected: 11 out of 77 screened

Bukit Petiti cluster
District(s): Kuala Terengganu, Marang, and Dungun, Terengganu
Locality/Source: Kampung Bukit Petiti, Manir, Kuala Terengganu
Cluster category: Community
First case: Feb 16, index case with symptoms
Total infected: 15 out of 40 screened

Kubang Jambu cluster
District(s): Kuala Nerus, Kuala Terengganu, and Marang, Terengganu
Locality/Source: Kampung Bukit Kubang Jambu, Kuala Terengganu
Cluster category: High risk (medical centre)
First case: Feb 15, index case with symptoms
Total infected: 7 out of 69 screened

Cases by state

Selangor (978)
Existing clusters: 225
New clusters: 31 (Kompleks Perabut, Jalan Sementa)
Close contacts: 466
Imported: 1
Other screenings: 255

Johor (730)
Existing clusters: 200
New clusters: 358 (Jalan Kota Murni, Jalan Murni 12, Jalan Tun Mutahir, Jalan Indah Utama, and Parit Haji Khamis)
Close contacts: 63
Other screenings: 109

Kuala Lumpur (227)
Existing clusters: 67
New cluster: 14 (Jalan Kuchai)
Close contacts: 62
Imported: 8
Other screenings: 76

Sarawak (199)
Existing clusters: 13
New clusters: 7 (Jalan Green, Kejatau)
Close contacts: 29
Imported: 8
Other screenings: 142

Negeri Sembilan (191)
Existing clusters: 122
Close contacts: 35
Other screenings: 34

Penang (188)
Existing clusters: 110
Close contacts: 56
Other screenings: 22

Perak (155)
Existing clusters: 123
Close contacts: 10
Other screenings: 22

Sabah (101)
Existing clusters: 50
New cluster: 1 (Singgahmata)
Close contacts: 25
Other screenings: 25

Kelantan (38)
Existing cluster: 6
Close contacts: 20
Other screenings: 12

Terengganu (37)
Existing clusters: 20
New clusters: 6 (Bukit Petiti, Kubang Jambu)
Close contacts: 6
Other screenings: 5

Kedah (36)
Existing clusters: 9
Close contacts: 1
Other screenings: 26

Malacca (26)
Existing clusters: 15
Close contacts: 6
Other screenings: 5

Pahang (26)
Existing clusters: 17
Close contacts: 4
Other screenings: 5

Putrajaya (3)
Existing cluster: 1
Close contacts: 2

Labuan (1)
Close contacts: 1

Perlis (0)

Source : Malaysiakini

Malaysia reported 2,712 new cases of Covid-19 as of noon today, of which four were imported cases, while the rest were locally transmitted.

Most cases are still concentrated in the Klang Valley (Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya), which accounts for 1,232 (45.4 percent) of the new cases. In addition, Johor recorded 426 cases, which is higher than all other states expect Selangor.

Perak and Kedah bucked its trend of double-digit figures of late, with Perak reporting 198 cases today, and Kedah reporting 182 cases.

The spike in Perak is mainly driven by the discovery of a new cluster in Teluk Intan, while cases in Kedah are predominantly from existing clusters.

For comparison, Perak had been reporting two-digit figures in the last four days, averaging 84 cases per day. Likewise, Kedah was averaging 50 cases a day over the same period.

Perlis, which hasn’t reported a single case in the last four days, detected six cases today. This is the highest for the state since Jan 28, when nine cases were reported.

Perlis will be the only state that will be placed under the recovery movement control order starting tomorrow and will enjoy more lenient restrictions than the rest of the country.

Despite the spike in several states, the overall number of active Covid-19 cases continued its fall and is now at its lowest level since Jan 17, when 37,782 active cases were recorded.

Active cases: 38,763

Patients in ICU: 227

Intubated: 103https://e.infogram.com/c357e60c-0ab3-4663-8f6c-8589121c6f59?parent_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.malaysiakini.com%2Fnews%2F563493&src=embed#async_embed

Deaths

The number of Covid-19 deaths reached a record-high of 25 cases in a day, edging out the previous record on Feb 8 by one death.

This brings the total death toll to 1,030.

It should be noted that fatal Covid-19 cases usually take two to eight weeks to reach its conclusion, so trends in deaths generally follow the infection trends of a few weeks prior.

Most of the deaths occurred in Selangor (15), followed by Sabah (3), Sarawak (3), Kuala Lumpur (2), Johor (1), and Putrajaya (1).

21 deceased were Malaysians while the other four were non-citizens. Five of them were below 60 years old.

The youngest death involved a three-year-old female in Sabah with brain cancer, while the oldest was a 100-year-old female in Selangor with a history of high blood pressure, heart disease, anaemia, stroke, and chronic kidney disease.

More alarmingly, six of the deceased were already dead when brought to a hospital.https://e.infogram.com/c8a28e8e-d511-48c1-bc1b-3eec0f7c699a?parent_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.malaysiakini.com%2Fnews%2F563493&src=embed#async_embed

Cases by state

Selangor (1,013)
Existing clusters: 412
New clusters (Jalan Bukit Kemuning, Jalan Jitu, Jalan Hulu Tinggi, Mayang, and Jalan Industri Kidamai): 85
Close contacts: 298
Other screenings: 218

Johor (426)
Existing clusters: 40
New clusters (Perindustrian Fasa Dua, Jalan Sri Putri, Jalan Perindustrian Estate, Jalan DPB Tiga, and Jalan Tebrau Dua): 134
Close contacts: 110
Imported: 2
Other screenings: 140

Kuala Lumpur (212)
Existing clusters: 43
New clusters (Mediacity): 6
Close contacts: 73
Imported: 1
Other screenings: 89

Sarawak (200)
Existing clusters: 22
Close contacts: 42
Imported: 1
Other screenings: 135

Perak (198)
Existing clusters: 22
New clusters (Jalan Changkat Jong): 158
Close contacts: 10
Other screenings: 8

Kedah (182)
Existing clusters: 165
Close contacts: 10
Other screenings: 7

Sabah (114)
Existing clusters: 20
New clusters (Lot Satu and Lot Tujuh): 14
Close contacts: 60
Other screenings: 20

Negeri Sembilan (81)
Existing clusters: 14
Close contacts: 34
Other screenings: 33

Penang (116)
Existing clusters: 61
New clusters (Lintang Kampung Jawa): 2
Close contacts: 21
Other screenings: 32

Pahang (52)
Existing clusters: 3
New clusters (Jalan Telok Ira): 40
Close contacts: 6
Other screenings: 3

Kelantan (43)
Existing clusters: 1
Close contacts: 25
Other screenings: 17

Malacca (38)
Existing clusters: 22
Close contacts: 6
Other screenings: 10

Terengganu (19)
Existing clusters: 5
New clusters (Kampung Jawek): 1
Close contacts: 11
Other screenings: 2

Putrajaya (7)
Existing clusters: 2
Close contacts: 3
Other screenings: 2

Perlis (6)
Other screenings: 6

Labuan (5)
Existing clusters: 3
Close contacts: 1
Other screenings: 1

Clusters

The Health Ministry is monitoring 506 active clusters, of which 94 reported new cases.

Monitoring ended for 10 clusters after no new cases were found for 28 consecutive days, but 17 new clusters have been discovered.

Most of the new clusters are classified as workplace clusters, but there is also a community cluster, a high-risk group cluster, and a religious cluster.

The Kebun Baru cluster in Kuala Langat and Klang, Selangor, saw the largest increase in new cases (188 cases) for a total of 861 cases.

This is followed by the newly detected Jalan Changkat Jong cluster in Perak (158 cases) and Selambau cluster in Penang and Kedah (155 cases).

Details of the new clusters are as follows:

Jalan Bukit Kemuning cluster
District(s): Klang, Selangor
Locality/Source: Services company at Jalan Bukit Kemuning, Shah Alam
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Feb 18, targeted screening
Total infected: 55 out of 147 screened

Jalan Jitu cluster
District(s): Klang, Selangor
Locality/Source: Two factories that share workers’ accommodations at Jalan Jitu, off Jalan Bukit Kemuning, Shah Alam
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Feb 17, targeted screening
Total infected: 39 out of 516 screened

Jalan Hulu Tinggi cluster
District(s): Petaling, Klang, Kuala Selangor, and Gombak , Selangor
Locality/Source: Factory at Jalan Hulu Tinggi, Kawasan Perindustrian Hicom, Shah Alam
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Jan 26, targeted screening
Total infected: 61 out of 800 screened

Mayang cluster
District(s): Petaling, Selangor
Locality/Source: Factory at Taman Mayang, Petaling Jaya
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Feb 7, targeted screening
Total infected: 24 out of 52 screened

Jalan Industri Kidamai cluster
District(s): Hulu Langat, Selangor
Locality/Source: Factory at Jalan Industri Kidamai, Kajang
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Feb 14, targeted screening
Total infected: 22 out of 510 screened

Perindustrian Fasa Dua cluster
District(s): Kulai and Kota Tinggi, Johor
Locality/Source: Factory at Kawasan Perindustrian Fasa 2, Senai
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Feb 8, targeted screening
Total infected: 27 out of 146 screened

Jalan Perindustrian Estate cluster
District(s): Kulai, Kota Tinggi, and Johor Bahru, Johor
Locality/Source: Factory at Senai Industrial Estate, Kulai
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Feb 8, targeted screening
Total infected: 53 out of 239 screened

Jalan DPB Tiga cluster
District(s): Johor Bahru, Johor
Locality/Source: Services company at Jalan DPB 3, Pelabuhan Tanjung Pelepas, Johor Bahru
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Feb 18, index case with symptoms
Total infected: 41 out of 97 screened

Jalan Tebrau Dua cluster
District(s): Johor Bahru, Johor
Locality/Source: Government administrative centre at Jalan Tebrau, Bukit Senyum, Johor Bahru
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Feb 13, index case with severe acute respiratory infection
Total infected: 12 out of 96 screened

Lot Satu cluster
District(s): Penampang, Sabah
Locality/Source: Restaraunt at Lot 1, Pekan Donggongon, Penampang
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Feb 15, index case with symptoms
Total infected: 9 out of 11 screened

Lot Tujuh cluster
District(s): Penampang, Sabah
Locality/Source: Restaraunt at Lot 7, Majukota Commercial Centre, Penampang
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Feb 17, index case with symptoms
Total infected: 8 out of 30 screened

Lintang Kampung Jawa cluster
District(s): All five districts in Penang
Locality/Source: Factory at Lintang Kampung Jawa, Kawasan Perindustrian Bayan Lepas, Barat Daya
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Feb 1, index case with symptoms
Total infected: 86 out of 208 screened

Jalan Changkat Jong cluster
District(s): Hilir Perak and Perak Tengah, Perak
Locality/Source: Factory at Jalan Changkat Jong, Teluk Intan, Hilir Perak
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Feb 3, targeted screening
Total infected: 166 out of 471 screened

Mediacity cluster
District(s): Cheras, Titiwangsa, and Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur
Locality/Source: Services company at Mediacity, Lembah Pantai
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Feb 1, index case with symptoms
Total infected: 15 out of 258 screened

Kampung Jawek cluster
District(s): Besut, Terengganu
Locality/Source: Residence at Kampung Jawek, Jerteh, Besut
Cluster category: Community
First case: Feb 14, contact tracing
Total infected: 9 out of 146 screened

Jalan Sri Putri cluster
District(s): Kulai, Johor
Locality/Source: Care facility at Jalan Sri Putri, Taman Putri, Kulai
Cluster category: High-risk group
First case: Feb 15, index case with symptoms
Total infected: 22 out of 30 screened

Jalan Telok Ira cluster
District(s): Temerloh, Pahang
Locality/Source: Educational facility at Jalan Telok Ira, Temerloh
Cluster category: Religious
First case: Feb 16, contact tracing
Total infected: 47 out of 263 screened

Source : Malaysiakini

HONG KONG: Hong Kong’s government on Thursday (Feb 18) approved the Chinese-made Sinovac coronavirus vaccine for emergency use after a panel of experts fast-tracked its recommendation despite the drug’s comparatively low efficacy.

The city’s health secretary, Sophia Chan, said the vaccine met the “safety, efficacy and quality requirements specified in Hong Kong emergency situations” and that the benefits outweighed the risks.

Patrick Nip, secretary for civil service, said the government expected to receive 1 million doses of Sinovac vaccines on Friday afternoon with vaccinations expected to start on Feb 26.

READ: Hong Kong holds scaled-down Chinese New Year fairs amid COVID-19, national security law

Chan, who was speaking at a news briefing together with Nip, addressed what she called “doubts” about vaccine safety and said all vaccines authorised by the government have been assessed to be safe by experts.

“The vaccines give us hope of returning to normal lives.”

A Hong Kong government advisory panel on COVID-19 vaccines said on Tuesday it recommended Sinovac vaccine for emergency use.

The recommendation came after the government exempted Sinovac from publishing results of its third phase clinical trials in medical journals due to the “urgency” for vaccination.

The advisory panel said it had received adequate data from the company.

That data, the panel said, showed an efficacy rate of 62.3 per cent when two doses are administered 28 days apart.

Late-stage trials in Brazil had shown an efficacy rate of just above 50 per cent – the threshold the World Health Organization uses to decide if a vaccine is worth using.

READ: China approves Sinovac Biotech COVID-19 vaccine for general public use

READ: China’s Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine safe for children, teenagers: State media

The BioNTech vaccine – the first vaccine approved by Hong Kong’s Health department – was required to have results published in a medical journal before being examined by the advisory panel on COVID-19 vaccines.

Nip said the BioNTech vaccine would arrive in Hong Kong before the end of February.

BioNTech has confirmed a 95 per cent protection rate when two shots are administered.

Residents will be able to get vaccinated at 29 centres across the city with five offering Sinovac and 24 offering BioNtech vaccines. Priority will be given to health workers, over 60s and those working in cross-border transportation.

READ: Hong Kong to ease COVID-19 restrictions as daily cases fall

Hong Kong is reducing social distancing rules following a sharp drop in new coronavirus cases, including restarting indoor dining and reopening gyms.

The relaxation that took effect Thursday is a huge relief for the city’s service sector, which has been hammered by periodical closure orders and strict limits on dining out.

Under the new rules, indoor dining is permitted until 10pm with no more than four people allowed at a table. Other outlets allowed to reopen include video arcades, fitness centers, beauty and massage parlors, amusement centers, karaoke bars and sports facilities. Staff at such facilities must undergo a coronavirus test every 14 days.

Public gatherings of more than two people remain prohibited and mask-wearing in public is mandatory until Mar 3.

Source : Malaysiakini

SINGAPORE: One of the most talked about announcements from Budget 2021 delivered by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat on Tuesday (Feb 16) was the hike in petrol duties.

Most drivers are concerned with how much this could push up costs of driving.

After all, yesterday’s mark-up mean petrol duties will hit a high this year at 79 cents for premium fuel and 66 for intermediate grade fuel.

READ: ‘It’s really unfair’: Delivery, ride-hailing drivers balk at petrol duty hike

MARGINAL IMPACT ON COST OF LIVING IN IMMEDIATE TERM

True, drivers would be impacted but the effect may be varied.

For large privately owned vehicles (say 2.4 litres or more), the increase would mean about S$100 to S$150 extra a month (assuming 1,000 litres a month consumption).

If you drive for lifestyle rather than for your livelihood, this increase may be negligible compared to the price of the car, its annual depreciation and where most season parking fees are in that range or more.

And thankfully, taxis, private hirer drivers and motorcyclists (who make a bulk of food deliverers) who use their vehicles for work will get rebates.

But the greater impact is the consequent decrease in vehicular emissions catalysed by this move.

Drivers who feel the pinch may drive less if they have strong public transport options. Drivers may also change their fuel choices.

The fact is premium fuel (which has higher octane component) produces more pollutants and should be discouraged.

The shift from a market share of almost 55 per cent in 2005 to about 25 per cent in 2017, in part due to education about fuel quality and in part due to the lower costs of intermediate-grade fuel, has already had a positive impact on the environment and human health.

READ: Commentary: Singapore’s oil and gas sector should embrace transition to a green future with confidence

This effect was further enhanced with the zero COE growth policy since 2018.

Raising 15 cents per litre on premium fuel will further penalise the use of a more polluting fuel versus 10 cents on intermediate fuels. 

The price differential at the pump between the two types remains steady at about 50 to 60 cents per litre, which could shift drivers currently using premium to intermediate to buffer the impact. 

LIMITED IMPACT ON PETROL INDUSTRY

Petrol companies will likely pass the increase in petrol duty in its entirety to the consumer instead of absorbing the tax hike to use this pricing difference to gain market share, since the fight for market share has only short-term benefits, for example, in relieving storage constraints at the refineries.

They are more likely to focus on enhancing brand loyalty with related discounts and promotions to maintain a long-term market share stability.

Our oil industry will not be affected significantly. Only 20 per cent of our local refinery production of petrol and diesel is for domestic use. Growing regional demand for these fuels where car growth is not restricted will most likely soak up the displaced volume.

READ: Commentary: Amid low COE prices, here’s why you should hold off buying a used car 

LIMITED INCREASE TO NATIONAL COFFERS

When DPM Heng said in his budget speech: “Usage-based tax has helped shape consumer behaviour towards a more efficient use of fuel or environmentally friendly alternatives,” I wondered if the petrol tax hike was an application of the nudge theory, an idea grounded in behavioural science.

After all, positive reinforcement and indirect suggestions can influence people’s decisions and actions without them even realising it.

READ: Commentary: Car or car-less? All depends on the parents

The motivation for such an increase in petrol duty must be the greater potential impact on emission reduction than revenue collection since most of the collected revenue will be channelled to the consumer in terms of rebates to ease the transition for those relying on their vehicles for their livelihoods.

Petrol and diesel pump sales have ballooned to 1,300 million litres per year on average over the last decade.

Assuming 80 per cent of that volume to be petrol, then we are looking at approximately an additional S$115 million each year in recurring duties, which disappears quite quickly with the S$113 million worth of rebates also announced on Tuesday.

In short, the rise in petrol duties will barely make a dent on national coffers, at least in the short term while there are still rebates.

(With new green targets announced by the Singapore Government, when will we be seeing more electric vehicles on our roads? And will town council and condominium committees get involved? The author and a business professor weigh in on CNA’s Heart of the Matter:)
https://omny.fm/shows/channelnewsasia/electric-cars-when-s-a-good-time-to-start-thinking/embed

NUDGING MORE SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLE CHOICES

A secondary intent may be in promoting the transition to electric vehicles with charging infrastructure development, if public transportation is less of a suitable substitute.

In prodding Singaporeans to adopt more conscious lifestyle choices aligned to our national vision of a Green Singapore, other behavioural changes that should be encouraged include avoiding peak hour jams (which burns at least two to three times more fuel), reducing average driving speed, less aggressive driving, and timely car maintenance.

An efficient public transport system will also be a key enabler.

Consumer behaviour is an important lever in our fight against climate change. If consumers are not focussed on sustainability, the environmental benefits from investments in new green technologies and progressive green policies will never be fully realised.

READ: Commentary: Why Singapore is ripe for an electric vehicle revolution

MAKING ELECTRIC VEHICLES MORE ATTRACTIVE

As Singapore marches towards the 2040 goal of phasing out of petrol vehicles, there will be less petrol duty collected albeit with a positive impact to the environment.

The question on everyone’s mind then may be how the government would supplement the diminished recurring revenue from petrol duty. Would this be through an increase in carbon taxes?

The increase in petrol duty also makes driving electric vehicles more attractive, where the cost of electrons can range from approximately 17 to 24 cents per kWh when charging at home to 55 cents per kWh when charging at public outlets provided by Shell Greenlots, or even lower at SP Group and eventually future Charge+.

That means S$35 at 55 cents per kWh for a full electric car battery of 64kWh for a travel distance of 350 to 400km depending on your driving style and use of air-conditioners.

This is good news when extensive lifecycle analysis have shown that EVs contribute a third of the greenhouse gases a comparable vehicle with an internal combustion engine does. This figure improves with a greener electricity grid.

Even in Singapore, with 95 per cent of our electrical grid on natural gas, EVs will still help to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

READ: Commentary: Electric vehicles will take over Singapore. But here’s what must happen first

READ: Amid push for electric vehicles, getting charging points installed in condominiums remains a challenge

For these reasons, I am also hearted by the announced S$30 million fund to develop Singapore’s EV charging infrastructure development efforts.

In Singapore’s shift towards a greener economy, we will need to keep our eye on juggling various sustainability balls to deliver impact.

We will need more behavioural nudges to reduce emissions by the transport sector which, for the record, has already started its bold transformational journey.

Dr Sanjay C Kuttan is council member at the Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore and Chair of the Sustainable Infrastructure Committee. Source: CNA/sl

BUSINESSES

– Village Grocer, Subang Parade, Selangor

The store will undergo deep cleaning and sanitation after a member of the online picker team tested positive yesterday, the supermarket said.

This is the second case announced among staff at this outlet this month, the first on Feb 8.

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EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

– Institut Perguruan Kota Samarahan, Sarawak

An employee at this institute has tested positive for Covid-19.

The person was last at the institute from Feb 4 to 11, the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee said. 

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RESIDENCES

– Taman Impian, Kluang, Johor

A resident here tested positive for Covid-19 yesterday, the Kluang Health Office said.

– Various localities in Batu Pahat, Johor

Covid-19 cases were detected at the following localities yesterday, the Batu Pahat Health Office said.

• Kampung Parit Bilal Dalam
• Taman Sri Panchor
• Lorong 5 Mukim Simpang Kanan
• Jalan Timah
• Jalan Ungku Moh 2
• Jalan Perak KKDO
• Jalan Kluang
• Parit Imam
• Taman Melati
• Kampung Parit Bingan Parit Raja
• Taman Universiti

– Various localities in Kota Tinggi, Johor

Covid-19 cases were detected at the following localities yesterday, the Kota Tinggi Health Office said.

• Taman Sayong Indah
• Kampung Lukut
• Kampung Tersusun Seri Delima
• Kota Mas
• Taman Aman
• Felda Pasir Raja
• Felda Sungai Sayong
• Felda Penggeli Timur
• Felda Air Tawar 1

– Various localities in Kulai, Johor

Covid-19 cases were detected at the following localities yesterday, the Kelantan Health Department said.

• Kampung Dalam Pondok, Tanah Merah
• Kampung Panglima Bayu, Tanah Merah
• Manal 3, Tanah Merah
• Kampung Belukar, Tumpat
• Kampung Tok Likong, Bachok
• Kampung Banggol Pauh, Bachok
• Kampung Pauh Lima, Bachok
• Kampung Cherang, Kota Bharu
• Jalan Sungai Keladi, Kota Bharu
• Jalan Pengkalan Chepa, Kota Bharu
• Kampung Guntong, Kota Bharu
• Kampung Padang Bongor, Kota Bharu
• Jalan Taman Mesra, Kota Bharu
• Kesedar Chenulang, Kuala Krai
• Batu Mengkebang, Kuala Krai
• Kampung Sungai Tasan, Kuala Krai
• Kampung Rahmat, Kuala Krai
• Bunut Payong Telekong, Kuala Krai

 – Jasmine Towers Condominium, Petaling Jaya, Selangor

The management said in a notice to residents dated Feb 16, sighted by Malaysiakini, that a father and his son who stay in the condominium had tested positive for Covid-19.

The two are currently under home quarantine while their other family members are getting screened. The management also assured that the affected areas have been disinfected.

– Kampung Pulau Rusa, Marang, Terengganu

According to the Health Ministry, the index case of the Pulau Rusa cluster resides at Kampung Pulau Rusa, Marang, Terengganu.

Up to Feb 17, 18 individuals have tested positive in this cluster.

The index case was detected on Feb 7 through symptomatic screening.

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CARE HOMES

– Pusat Jagaan Amal Asyura, Sungai Buloh, Selangor

According to the Health Ministry, a cluster of cases was detected at a care home at Jalan DC 1/3, Desa Coalfields, Sungai Buloh, Selangor.

The ministry did not name the care home but it is believed to Pusat Jagaan Amal Asyura, an orphanage located on Jalan DC 1/3.

Up to Feb 17, 13 cases have been detected in this cluster, of which nine are children.

The index case, a 36-year-old woman, was detected through symptomatic screening on Feb 15.

– City Heart Care Nursing Home, Johor Bahru, Johor

According to the Health Ministry, at least 39 cases have been detected at a care home at Jalan Payamanis, Johor Bahru.

The ministry did not name the home, but a check on the Welfare Department’s portal found that City Heart Care Nursing Home is the only care home on Jalan Payamanis, Johor Bahru.

The index case was detected on Feb 17 through symptomatic screening.

[More to follow]

Source:Malaysiakini

BUSINESSES

– Jaya Grocer, Jaya 33, Petaling Jaya, Selangor

An employee here tested positive via a Rapid Antigen Test for Covid-19 yesterday, the supermarket said.

The employee works in the goods and receiving department and was last at the store on Feb 12.

The supermarket is temporarily closed from 6.30pm yesterday so all staff can be tested using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.

It will reopen on Feb 18 with staff who tested negative and are not close contacts with the infected employee, it said.

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EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

– SK Kidurong 2, Bintulu Sarawak

A cluster of 12 cases have been detected here, the Sarawak government said.

The index case is a 36-year-old woman who tested positive on Feb 9.

– Kolej Teknologi Sarawak, Kuching, Sarawak

An employee here tested positive for Covid-19, the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee said.

The employee was last at work on Feb 11 to 13, from 7am to 4pm.

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RESIDENCES

– Rumah Banyang, Nanga Lijan, Julau, Sarawak

A cluster of cases was detected at this longhouse, the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee said.

The Nanga Lijan cluster also involves close contacts at a local supermarket, the committee said.

The index case was detected on Feb 1, when he visited the local Klinik Kesihatan to seek treatment for fever and cough which started on Jan 27.

An enhanced movement control order has been imposed on the longhouse until Feb 21.

– Various locations in Penang

The Penang Health Department releases a daily list of localities where Covid-19 were detected. Below is the list dated Feb 16, according to districts:

Timur Laut district

• Taman Seri Setia
• Tingkat Paya Terubong
• Taman Terubong Indah
• Taman Terubong Jaya
• Desa Permai Indah
• BJ Court

Barat Daya district

• Golden Triangle, Paya Terubong
• Solok Rajawali
• Taman Gembira
• Taman Desa Bayan
• Taman Teluk Kumbar
• Mutiara Perdana 2
• Persiaran Mayang Pasir
• Taman Seri Puteri Solok Kenari
• Kampung Bukit 3 Bayu Nyaman
• Sri Kenari Apartment
• Imperial Residences
• Pusat Bayan Jalan Merbah
• Pangsapuri Nuri

Seberang Perai Utara district

• Kampung Guar Kepah
• Bertam Perdana 3
• Pulau Mertajam
• Permatang Tinggi Bakar Bata
• Pangsapuri Teluk Air Tawar
• Taman Cempedak
• Pengkalan Machang Sungai Dua
• Pangsapuri Hijau Indah
• Paya Keladi Tengah
• Wellesley Residences
• Jalan Ara Kuda

Seberang Perai Tengah district

• Kampung Pelet
• Taman Perai Indah
• Taman Seri Berapit
• Taman Guar Perahu
• Permatang Rawa
• Apartment Permata Bandar Perda
• Residensi Seri Pauh
• Taman Sembilang
• Taman Pauh Indah
• Pangsapuri Service Meritus
• Kampung Alma
• Pangsapuri Pauh Damai

Seberang Perai Selatan district

• Taman Seri Emas

– Various locations in Batu Pahat, Johor

Below are locations where Covid-19 cases were detected in this district yesterday, according to the Batu Pahat Health Department:

• Taman Orkid Jaya 5
• Jalan Pantai
• Taman Sorga
• Jalan Parit Balak
• Kampung Lapis Sempadan
• Taman Sedap

– Various locations in Kluang, Johor

Below are locations where Covid-19 cases were detected in this district yesterday, according to the Kluang Health Department:

• Ladang Pekan
• Kampung Baru GSA Chamek
• Taman Cantik
• Taman Harmoni 3

– Various locations in Kota Tinggi, Johor

Below are locations where Covid-19 cases were detected in this district yesterday, according to the Kota Tinggi Health Department:

• Taman Kota Jaya
• Taman Kota Merdesa
• Taman Anggerik
• Taman Sayong Pinang
• Felda Bukit Waha
• Felda Lok Heng Barat
• Felda Air Tawar 2
• Felda Air Tawar 5
• Felda Air Tawar 4
• Felda Pasir Raja
• Kampung Lukut

– Various areas in Kelantan

Covid-19 cases were detected yesterday at the following localities, the Kelantan Health Department said:

• Kampung Gual Sitok, Pasir Mas
• Kampung Dalam Pondok, Tanah Merah
• Felda Guchil 3, Kuala Krai
• Kampung Dusun Pinang, Kota Bharu
• Taman Aisyah Abu Bakar, Kota Bharu
• Kampung Kubang Keranji, Kota Bharu
• Pengkalan Datu, Kota Bharu
• Lorong Che Mat Baba, Kota Bharu
• Kampung Bawah Lembah Kota Bharu
• Kampung Geting Tebing, Tumpat

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CARE HOMES

– High Q Senior Enrichment Centre, Sibu, Sarawak

The manager of this nursing home told Malaysiakini there have been over 40 Covid-19 cases detected here.

The cases are likely to be linked to the Jalan Geronggang cluster, a new high-risk cluster which was announced by the Health Ministry yesterday.

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GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS

– Julau Post Office, Sarawak

A customer who visited here on Feb 3 has tested positive for Covid-19, the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee said.

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PLACES OF WORSHIP

– Surau Unigarden, Samarahan, Sarawak

An individual who tested positive for Covid-19 visited this surau on Feb 13, the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee said.

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MEDICAL FACILITIES

– Bagan Specialist Centre, Penang

Five staff tested positive for Covid-19 on Feb 15, the medical centre said.

The staff have been isolated, while other personnel who had close contact have been tested and quarantined.

The affected areas have been disinfected, and operations resumed today, the centre said.

– Bagan Specialist Centre, Penang

Five staff tested positive for Covid-19 on Feb 15, the medical centre said.

The staff have been isolated, while other personnel who had close contact have been tested and quarantined.

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OFFICES

– Public Bank Tower, Johor Bahru and Bangunan Public Bank, Kuala Lumpur

Level 2 and 14 of Public Bank Tower, Johor Bahru and Level 14 of Bangunan Public Bank, Kuala Lumpur are temporarily closed for disinfection.

This is after several staff members tested positive for Covid-19 in the period of Feb 3 to 8, the bank said.

All employees who had contact with the affected staff underwent screening and are in quarantine.

Source : From Malaysiakini

Covid-19 cases only show marginal improvement after a month’s lockdown.’

MCO 2.0 extended to March 4 in S’gor, KL, Johor and Penang

Citizen_Zero: In case it sounds like I think I know better, yes I do. In fact, I know I know better.

It’s nonsense to call the movement control order (MCO) now an actual MCO. In its current form and conditions, it does not serve a real purpose to protect the people from Covid-19 or prevent its spread.

It is too late for an “MCO” as Senior Minister (Security) Ismail Sabri Yaakob calls it. They are just calling it MCO to look like they are doing something and to justify the emergency.

That’s why they cannot back out of it. Anyway, the thin red line has already been crossed. The virus genie is already fully out of the bottle.

Shops are open and the people are out, all taking care of themselves and not caring about the government anymore because Perikatan Nasional (PN) has lost all integrity and credibility. Not that they had any in the first place.

Let’s be honest and real, this MCO 2.0 has nothing to do with MCO 1.0. It is all to serve the political interests of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, Senior Minister (Finance & Economics) Azmin Ali, and the rest of the PN opportunists.

They don’t care about the health situation. The government departments, Health Ministry personnel and the frontliners are doing their jobs already anyway.

They are better ways now to handle the situation but PN is not doing it. Just look at Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. They are the centre of Malaysian economy but they are not protecting it in the first place.

So, simply put, if the PN government can do whatever they want, so can we. We will do what we need to do to survive. Because we know better.

Purplepea: Don’t get me wrong but the whole point of an MCO is really pointless at this stage. You can’t keep people at home forever.

Shut down the factories that have clusters and let the other businesses run. This is becoming close to a two-month “lockdown” and you are going to see more job losses. It won’t happen right away, but many people will be jobless soon.

You already see small businesses that were trying to stay afloat have already downsized as much as they can, and now, as they are closing down, it will do way too much damage.

You should’ve just come up with solid standard operating procedures (SOPs). Tell you what, if stupid leaders actually follow them, then the public will follow.

There is poor enforcement because enforcement officers are confused over the changing SOPs.

Well Thats Fantastic: No one is asking anyone to stay home forever, vaccination is our way back to some kind of new normal.

It is stupid to pretend people aren’t suffering and dying from this virus. The government needs to help and provide assistance to those in hardship.

Matteropong: Indeed, there is hardly any difference now between the MCO and conditional MCO (CMCO) since more businesses are opening up and travel is less restricted.

The terms are misleading and complicate things operationally. They do not help the public’s health and do nothing to raise the daily income of the B40 (bottom 40 percent of income earners) and M40 (middle 40 percent).

PurpleMacaw4829: What’s the point of announcing an extension every two weeks? Just announce “until further notice”.

Malaysia is in a sad state of affairs. Is it now a competition to change the rules faster than the virus is spreading?

People and businesses are suffering and closing down everywhere. The silence from our leaders speaks volumes.

Mr Trump 666: The Covid-19 cases only show marginal improvement after a month’s lockdown. They should just close everything and declare a strict curfew for 14 days and I believe it will be better than this main-main (slapdash) type of lockdown.

V S: Using Covid-19 as a political tool to make life miserable for your “beloved” rakyat is a sin.

There is no point in announcing the MCO, enhanced MCO (ECMO), recovery MCO (RCMO), whether we can travel, or eat out, or cross state boundaries… people are still going to curse you for what you are really doing under the guise of Covid-19.

The Covid-19 virus does not respect state boundaries. Politicians should not be allowed to cross boundaries to canvass for votes. We are even getting the vaccine later than other countries because they were busy playing politics.

YellowGopher7568: What kind of a dumb government do we have? Isn’t there any intelligent minister in this government? Over 70 of them in the cabinet and they cannot come up with a formula to control the disease?

Look at the two most populated nations of the world – China and India. They have managed to bring down the infection to a manageable level and are also producing their own vaccines.

We are still struggling. Emergency, MCO, CMCO, no interstate travel, no inter-district travel, and, best of all, suspension of Parliament. That takes the cake.

GMan: You open up everything but still keep the MCO? Absolutely a no-brain plan.

While most businesses can open, schools are shut with more and more children dropping out or losing all interest in online learning.

B40 children are struggling with poor infrastructure and lack of resources to efficiently access any online learning. They will only fall further behind.

Where is the Education Ministry? Most countries have prioritised reopening of schools before businesses as they know that the key for the next generation is continued education.

But here, we have ministers and the director-general who haven’t addressed the issue of continued impact of school closures.

To top off the absurdity, private and international schools are also forced to close when their class numbers are actually small enough to ensure safe physical distancing and are more easily managed than supermarkets and business which are allowed to open.

For the sake of the children – reopen the schools for their future. Otherwise, we will end up having a lost generation of school-going children among the B40.

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Source:Malaysiakini

The Covid-19 vaccines have been under public scrutiny since the mRNA vaccine from Pfizer-BioNTech was first granted early and limited use by the British Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on Dec 2, 2020. 

Nine days later, emergency use authorisation (EUA) was issued by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine. 

The Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine has since been authorised for use in 61 countries, including Malaysia. It is also the first Covid-19 vaccine to be given emergency use validation by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Dec 30, 2020, which also emphasised the need for global equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines.

Approximately, 148 million doses have been administered globally. Israel and the United Arab Emirates lead the pack with 78 percent and 53 percent of its population immunised with the Pfizer and Chinese vaccines respectively. (Diagram I)

Diagram I

Thus far, all the vaccines in use have proven to be very effective in preventing severe Covid-19 disease, Category 3-5, which often requires hospitalisation and has been responsible for 2.4 million deaths as of Feb 17.

The Phase III vaccine trials have shown vaccine efficacy (VE) in the range of 85-100 percent protection against severe Covid-19.

Israel was among the first to undertake a mass roll-out of the vaccines in December 2020. By the first week of February this year, 40 percent of eligible Israelis had received the first dose of either of the two mRNA vaccines. Some 75 percent of those over 60 years old had received both doses of their vaccines. 

Maccabi, Israel’s second-largest healthcare provider compared the infection rates of immunised and non-immunised Israelis. Some 66 (0.03 percent) people, out of a group of 248,000 vaccinated, developed mild Covid-19, not requiring hospital care.

In contrast, 8,250 (0.92 percent) out of 900,000 unvaccinated persons caught Covid-19, which is 30 times more than the vaccine group.

The estimated VE was 92 percent, similar to the 95 percent in the Pfizer and Moderna Phase III trials.

In Maccabi’s sample group of 50,777 people over the age of 60 who received two doses of the vaccine, they reported a 60 percent decrease in the number of new infections and hospitalisations. (Diagram II)

Israel is currently undergoing its third lockdown, which began in late December last year. As of Feb 12, Israel has reported 734,575 cases with 5,441 deaths (0.74 percent). Researchers in Israel have suggested that the fall in cases and hospitalisations are due to the effects of the vaccines and not just the lockdowns.

Israel was also experiencing the highly contagious B.1.1.7 Kent strain, which was filling up its hospital beds.

The world has also seen the highly transmissible B.1.351 strain from South Africa and the P.1 variant from Brazil.

These SARS-CoV-2 mutants have rendered some of the vaccines less efficacious. The VE of the Janssen, Novavax and AstraZeneca vaccines are 57 percent, 50 percent and 10 percent against the South African strain respectively. South Africa has since stopped the rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine. (Diagram III A-C)

Novavax had a VE of 95.6 percent against the original Covid-19 strain and 85.6 percent against the UK variant strain. 

The presence of these very contagious variants in the community is very worrying and challenging to our yet to roll out vaccine programme. Notwithstanding, we must ensure very strict border controls to prevent the entry of these strains into the country.

The shortened three-day quarantine period of ministers is a big policy no. They have been well known to be super-spreaders since the Sabah state election and releasing them prematurely to the community following their overseas travels has the potential of releasing very contagious SARS-CoV-2 mutants into the population. This will increase the number of cases, overwhelm our currently stretched healthcare capacity and endanger the lives of our rakyat.

Similarly, the Malaysia-Indonesia travel bubble recently negotiated by the PM is not a good idea either. Indonesia, despite the introduction of the Sinovac vaccination programme, is a potential epicentre of the super-spreader mutants, considering their 1.2 million cases and 32,000 deaths, which are still largely under-reported since their positive rates are very high at 28.5 percent (as of Feb 7) (Diagram IV).

Very close sero-surveillance by the Institute for Medical Research (IMR) has detected a second Kent strain in Malaysia. It is vital that we stem the spread of these very transmissible strains, or we will render our vaccines less effective in protecting our population. 

Diagram IV

The more than 85 percent efficacy against severe Covid-19 disease by all the vaccines against the original SARS-CoV-2 strain is most welcome news. It means that fewer victims are admitted, less utilisation of ICU and ventilator beds, lesser deaths and the healthcare services are not overwhelmed.

The other property of the vaccine that is currently being investigated is its ability to prevent the transmission of infections. Early studies are indicating that the AstraZeneca vaccine is able to decrease the spread by 67 percent. 

In the Moderna trial, they swabbed the volunteers at baseline and before their second dose. Some 39 (0.3 percent) in the placebo group and 15 (0.1 percent) in the vaccine group, became positive prior to the second dose (28 days) after an initial negative swab at baseline and remained asymptomatic. 

This suggests that even after the first dose, there is a 60 percent reduction of asymptomatic carriage. We look forward to the follow up of these patients to examine the reduction or elimination of the SARS-CoV-2 in the nasopharynx following immunisation.

Children under 16, those with certain pre-existing morbidities, lack of vaccines and those who choose not to receive the vaccines will benefit from the indirect protection provided by the vaccines which reduce the transmission of the coronavirus.

Some vaccine manufacturers are already beginning to design booster vaccine shots that would protect against these new variants. Others are developing polyvalent vaccines to deal with the many SARS-CoV-2 mutants.

For a start, our NPRA must very quickly license Moderna, Sputnik V and AstraZeneca for EUA since they have been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. And we suspect Sinovac, Sinopharm, Johnson & Johnson and Novavax have submitted their brief documents for consideration.

This is very critical in order to ensure we have ready access to a complete portfolio of vaccines to enhance our chances of attaining herd immunity with multiple vaccines at warp speed.

As it is, Covid-19 vaccines are very difficult to come by and nations are scrambling to lay their hands on them. Even vaccine manufacturers are competing to acquire raw materials to ramp up their manufacturing capacity.

We have quite a bit of catch up to do. Singapore, Indonesia, Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar, just to mention a few, have advanced ahead of us. Singapore is expecting to complete its Covid-19 immunisation programme by this December.

If EUA is granted by the NPRA, private hospitals may be able to procure the vaccines and provide them to their paying clients. Our open letter to the PM urged the government to facilitate the licensing process and to cap the selling price of the vaccines (and PCR and RTK-Ag kits). 

This is essential in order to ensure that they are affordable to the paying public and help to accelerate the national agenda to achieve herd immunity.

There are reliable sources claiming that certain quarters are quietly providing the Chinese vaccines to select members of the public. These Chinese vaccines have yet to be licensed by the NPRA. 

This clandestine marketing of these unauthorised vaccines must be stopped and the responsible agencies, namely the Health Ministry and the National Vaccination Council, must act swiftly.

Source : Malaysiakini

The country reported 2,998 new cases of Covid-19 as of noon today, of which seven were imported cases, while the rest were locally transmitted. 

This comprised 1,578 Malaysians (52.8 percent) and 1,413 non-citizens (47.2 percent). Malaysians made up 63.2 percent of all Covid-19 cases to date.

The number of new cases has been growing for the third consecutive day following a lull in testing over the Chinese New Year holidays.

Nevertheless, the number of active cases was still trending downwards due to a large number of patients being discharged from medical care.

A total of 5,709 recovered from Covid-19 today, compared to yesterday’s record-high of 5,718 discharges.

However, 22 more people succumbed to the disease – the second-highest figure ever reported in the country. The highest was 24 deaths reported on Feb 8.

For the record, in fatal Covid-19 cases, death usually occurs two to eight weeks after the onset of symptoms. So, trends in Covid-19 deaths usually reflect infections that occurred weeks earlier.

Active cases: 41,396

Patients in ICU: 231

Intubated: 115https://e.infogram.com/c357e60c-0ab3-4663-8f6c-8589121c6f59?parent_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.malaysiakini.com%2Fnews%2F563339&src=embed#async_embed

Deaths

The country’s Covid-19 death toll reached four-digits today with the 22 new deaths, bringing the figure to 1,005.

Most of the deaths occurred in Selangor (8), followed by Sabah (4), Kuala Lumpur (3), Sarawak (2), Perak (2), and Negeri Sembilan (1).

All of the deaths involved Malaysians, the youngest of which was a 41-year-old female with diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoarthritis; and the oldest is a 100-year-old male with high blood pressure and asthma.

Two of the deaths involved people with no history of chronic illness – a 48-year-old male in Sabah, and an 83-year-old female in Selangor.

One person – a 73-year-old male with high blood pressure – was brought in dead at Sibu Hospital, Sarawak.https://e.infogram.com/c8a28e8e-d511-48c1-bc1b-3eec0f7c699a?src=embed

Cases by state

Selangor (1,382)
Existing clusters: 627
New clusters (Tapak Bina Jalan Emas, Tapak Bina Seksyen Satu, Jalan DC, Jalan Subang): 82
Close contacts: 383
Other screenings: 290

Johor (436)
Existing clusters: 60
New clusters (Jalan Perindustrian Murni, Jalan Payamanis, Senai Murni Empat, Jalan Persiaran Cyber): 175
Close contacts: 84
Other screenings: 117

Negeri Sembilan (233)
Existing clusters: 141
New cluster (Industri Tekstil Nilai): 49
Close contacts: 18
Other screenings: 25

Kuala Lumpur (226)
Existing clusters: 19
New cluster (Tapak Bina Jalan Sultan): 117
Close contacts: 16
Imported: 6
Other screenings: 68

Sarawak (200)
Existing clusters: 65
New cluster (Jan Yong): 14
Close contacts: 7
Other screenings: 114

Perak (99)
Existing clusters: 67
Close contacts: 12
Other screenings: 20

Sabah (94)
Existing clusters: 19
Close contacts: 54
Other screenings: 21

Penang (92)
Existing clusters: 29
Close contacts: 29
Other screenings: 34

Terengganu (91)
Existing clusters: 6
New cluster (Pulau Rusa): 1
Close contacts: 8
Other screenings: 76

Kelantan (72)
Existing clusters: 48
Close contacts: 13
Imported: 1
Other screenings: 10

Kedah (36)
Existing clusters: 19
Close contacts: 4
Other screenings: 13

Malacca (20)
Existing clusters: 11
Close contacts: 6
Other screenings: 3

Pahang (14)
Existing clusters: 2
Close contacts: 6
Other screenings: 6

Putrajaya (2)
Close contacts: 1
Other screenings: 1

Labuan (1)
Other screenings: 1

Clusters

The monitoring period ended for 13 clusters today, but the Health Ministry identified 13 new ones.

Hence, the number of active clusters remained unchanged at 499. Of these, new cases were reported in 75 clusters.

The largest increase was seen in the Tanjung Suria cluster, which affected several districts in Selangor as well as the Kota Bharu district in Kelantan.

There were 380 new cases detected in the cluster for a total of 2,526 cases. The cluster was first detected following targeted screening in two factories in December last year.

Four other clusters also reported hundreds of cases today, namely the Kebun Baru cluster (186 cases) in Selangor, the Industri TTJ cluster (141) in Negeri Sembilan and Malacca, the Tapak Bina Jalan Sultan cluster (117) in Kuala Lumpur, and the Persiaran Cyber cluster in Johor (105).

Details of the new clusters are as follows:

Tapak Bina Jalan Emas cluster
District(s): Petaling, Selangor
Locality/Source: Construction site near Jalan Emas, Petaling Jaya
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Feb 17, targeted screening
Total infected: 49 out of 359 screened

Tapak Bina Seksyen Satu cluster
District(s): Hulu Langat, Selangor
Locality/Source: Construction site near Seksyen 1, Hulu Langat
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Feb 15, targeted screening
Total infected: 18 out of 342 screened

Jalan Rawang cluster
District(s): Gombak, Selangor
Locality/Source: Factory at Jalan Rawang-Bestari Jaya, Gombak
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Feb 16, targeted screening
Total infected: 42 out of 442 screened

Jalan Subang cluster
District(s): Petaling, Selangor
Locality/Source: Factory at Jalan Subang 7, Taman Perindustrian Subang, Subang Jaya
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Feb 16, targeted screening
Total infected: 18 out of 151 screened

Jalan Perindustrian Murni cluster
District(s): Kulai, Johor Bahru and Kota Tinggi, Johor
Locality/Source: Factory at Jalan Perindustrian, Taman Perindustrian Murni, Senai
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Feb 11, targeted screening
Total infected: 18 out of 457 screened

Senai Murni Empat cluster
District(s): Kulai, Johor
Locality/Source: Factory at Jalan Murni 4, Taman Perindustrian Murni, Senai
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Feb 17, targeted screening
Total infected: 18 out of 97 screened

Jalan Persiaran Cyber cluster
District(s): Kota Tinggi, Johor
Locality/Source: Two factories at Jalan Cyber, Kawasan Perindustrian Senai 3, Kulai
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Feb 8, targeted screening
Total infected: 121 out of 852 screened

Pulau Rusa cluster
District(s): Marang, Kuala Nerus, Kuala Terengganu, and Dungun, Terengganu
Locality/Source: Residence at Kampung Pulau Rusa, Marang
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Feb 7, index case with symptoms
Total infected: 18 out of 139 screened

Industri Tekstil Nilai cluster
District(s): Seremban and Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan
Locality/Source: Factory at Kawasan Perindustrian Nilai
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Feb 15, targeted screening
Total infected: 64 out of 413 screened

Tapak Bina Jalan Sultan cluster
District(s): Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur
Locality/Source: Construction site at Jalan Sultan Ismail, Bandar Wawasan, Lembah Pantai
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Feb 12, targeted screening
Total infected: 120 out of 285 screened

Jalan DC cluster
District(s): Kuala Selangor, Selangor
Locality/Source: Care centre at Jalan DC 1/3, Desa Coalfields, Sungai Buloh
Cluster category: High-risk group
First case: Feb 15, index case with symptoms
Total infected: 13 out of 37 screened

Jalan Paya Manis cluster
District(s): Johor Bahru, Johor
Locality/Source: Care centre at Jalan Payamanis, Johor Bahru
Cluster category: High-risk group
First case: Feb 17, index case with symptoms
Total infected: 39 out of 254 screened

Jan Yong cluster
District(s): Kapit, Sarawak
Locality/Source: Community in Sungai Yong, Kapit
Cluster category: Community
First case: Feb 17, contact tracing
Total infected: 15 out of 46 screened

Source : From Malaysiakini