Malaysia’s health crisis is taking a turn for the worst as new Covid-19 cases rise exponentially, a viral surge that as a percentage of the population is now higher than India’s daily infection rate.
With a record number of critically ill patients occupying almost 1,200 intensive care unit (ICU) beds, the healthcare system is at a breaking point amid reports of doctors giving priority care to patients with higher chances of recovery.
The Muslim-majority nation has seen a dramatic five-fold rise in cases since the beginning of the year and consecutive days of record-high daily caseloads in the thousands following the Eid al-Fitr holiday. Recent infections are being traced to gatherings held in violation of social distancing and movement restrictions during the end of the month-long Ramadan fasting period.
Daily transmissions have far outpaced Ministry of Health (MoH) forecasts, which were projected to cross the 8,000-case threshold by around June 5 if safety guidelines, or what Malaysia calls standard operating procedures (SOPs), were not complied with.
The Muslim-majority nation has seen a dramatic five-fold rise in cases since the beginning of the year and consecutive days of record-high daily caseloads in the thousands following the Eid al-Fitr holiday. Recent infections are being traced to gatherings held in violation of social distancing and movement restrictions during the end of the month-long Ramadan fasting period.
Daily transmissions have far outpaced Ministry of Health (MoH) forecasts, which were projected to cross the 8,000-case threshold by around June 5 if safety guidelines, or what Malaysia calls standard operating procedures (SOPs), were not complied with.
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Nile Bowie is a journalist and correspondent with the Asia Times covering current affairs in Singapore and Malaysia. He can be reached at nilebowie@gmail.com.
