COMMENT | What is the size of the Covid-19 epidemic in Malaysia?

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COMMENT | To understand our epidemic stop looking at daily coronavirus case numbers.

| There are many individuals who have expressed reassurance with the small number of daily new coronavirus cases reported and the slow growth of our epidemic. I have seen many posts on various social media regarding this, often with some comparison with countries doing worse than us. But this is false reassurance if you look at the bigger picture.

First, recognise that our testing numbers are limited. The Ministry of Health only does what they call "targeted" testing and does not test widely outside of that criteria. The table below shows the test results available each day from the testing of new cases for the past two weeks. Except for one outstanding day , our test availability is generally between 1,500-3,500 cases each day. We have been informed by MOH that currently, we can do 11,500 tests each day.

MOH had informed that the PCR test takes 6-7 hours to conduct and that results are usually available within 24 hours. Although we would like to get our test results back within 24 hours, this is not always possible. A number of colleagues working on the ground have expressed that getting results in 48 hours is considered a good response. Some say it takes 5-7 days to get results. Even healthcare staff that have potentially been exposed may have to wait for 4-5 days to get their status known.

Imagine the risk to all the healthcare professionals managing him and the family/community he lives in if we do not test him? Until the past two days, MOH local guidelines did not advocate testing any such patient. Another area we are limited in testing is our healthcare professionals . While we will test those exposed to Covid-19 positive patients, we do not routinely test HCPs who become unwell with respiratory symptoms. In this epidemic, the highest risk job is that of an HCP. Every day they will see countless patients, some who may be infected with the coronavirus without their knowledge.

Another way to estimate the size of our epidemic is to use deaths; what is called a "back-of-the-envelope calculation". If we assume a reasonable mortality rate of 1% then 1 death equals approximately 100 cases. We currently have 62 deaths which equate to 6,200 cases. But remember that deaths have a lag-time compared to cases. It takes about 7-14 days before an infected person presents clinically.

 

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They will never tellthe truth ! Ever!!! The no of fatalities is absolute joke;it does not make sense ! It’s more than that!

Nothing compared to what's happening in Indonesia. But look at how the Perikatan Nasional Malay-Islamofascists and their running dogs who got themselves appointed PM and Ministers by the Agong are bungling their fight against this virus. Resign MuhyiddinYassin - You are useless.

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