MOH to change Covid reporting as cases and hospitalisations 'decouple'
The Health Ministry will be changing the way it releases Covid-19 data starting tomorrow, by publishing the new daily cases at the same time as the other metrics in the morning of the following day.
This change comes as Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said there has been a “decoupling” of the daily cases with the severity of the cases.
“Starting tomorrow, the number of daily cases will no longer be announced in the afternoon of the same day. It will be announced together with the other data at 10am the next day.
“We have to change our mindset, we have to read the daily cases together with all the other metrics so that we have a clearer picture of the situation with the hospitalisations, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), deaths and so on.
“This is so we can slowly educate the public and turn them from only looking at the daily cases to the other figures which will give a clearer and more thorough picture,” Khairy said at a press conference in Putrajaya today, which was also live-streamed.
High cases, low deaths
It has been 10 days since the start of the Omicron wave in the country, he said, and the latest numbers show that despite a new record of daily cases yesterday (Feb 16) with 27,831 infections, the average number of deaths remains low.
The average death for the fifth epidemiology week this year stands at 13 deaths a day, compared to the average of 345 deaths a day during the peak of the Delta wave in August last year, he added.
“Back then (during the Delta wave), when daily cases increased, that meant deaths and critical hospitalisations would also go up at the same rate.
“But now, so far, we see there is a decoupling between the cases and severity,” Khairy said.
The number of those being admitted into the ICU is also 80 to 90 percent lower compared to what was reported in August last year even though the number of daily cases now is much higher, he added.
The figures for daily new Covid-19 cases are usually released in the afternoon of the same day, whereas other data such as deaths and hospitalisations are published the following morning.
Severe cases involved unvaccinated patients
Speaking more on the record number of daily cases on Feb 16, Khairy said among the number of Category 3, 4 and 5 cases recorded that day, 24.7 percent (24 cases) were unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated.
Another 52.8 percent (51 cases) were those who were fully vaccinated but had not received their booster.
Category 3, 4 and 5 cases refer to Covid-19 cases with more serious symptoms.
“The common denominator (between the two groups) is that they haven’t received their booster shot yet.
“That means, for us to ensure we reduce these Category 3, 4 and 5 cases which are concerning to the Health Ministry, we urge those who have yet to get their booster to do so.
“The booster dose is not a guarantee for us to not get Covid-19 but it can help prevent serious symptoms from the virus,” the minister added.
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