He said infections will surge even further over the next two weeks.

In a press conference today, he said the rise in cases in the Klang Valley and Negeri Sembilan was largely due to targeted screenings at workplaces and areas under the enhanced movement control order (EMCO).

But Noor Hisham expected cases to further rise over the next week or so, citing the Delta variant which is more infectious and which spreads faster as a major factor.

“We have also been informed that the Delta variant is the dominant variant here. Every state has detected the Delta variant.

“Covid-19 cases are expected to continue to increase in the next week or two before we see them stabilise,” he said.

He also advised those living in high-risk areas to double-mask to prevent contracting the virus, especially since the variants were airborne.

Noor Hisham said over 52,000 rapid Covid-19 test kits were used on the field in areas under the EMCO yesterday, which contributed to the spike in cases. He added that these screenings were both in workplaces and communities.

On a positive note, he said fewer senior citizens were being admitted in hospitals for Covid-19, attributing it to the administration of Covid-19 vaccines to those in high-risk categories since April.

He added that those who had been vaccinated yet got infected only developed mild symptoms and were allowed to recuperate at home.

He reiterated that getting the vaccine and complying with Covid-19 SOPs were the only ways to overcome the pandemic.

Noor Hisham also said 2,779 health workers contracted Covid-19 after being fully vaccinated, although most of them were in Category 1 and 2.

“There were only three frontliners whose conditions developed into Category 3 and another three who were in Category 4,” he said.

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