KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 14 — The Ministry of Health (MOH) has screened 1,312,886 individuals as of September 8, bringing Malaysia’s Covid-19 testing rate to 41.0 per 1,000 people.
Statista revealed that as of September 11, Israel conducted the highest number of Covid-19 tests per one million population among countries most severely impacted by the pandemic, followed by the United States. Israel has conducted 284,859 tests per one million people, whereas the US conducted 271,543 tests per million people.
The United Kingdom, in fourth place, has performed 259,284 coronavirus tests per one million people as of September 11, while Italy conducted 158070 tests per one million people.
In comparison, Malaysia so far has conducted 41,000 tests per one million people, approximately five times more than Indonesia (9,302 tests), Bangladesh (10,242 tests), and even India (39,127 tests), as of September 11.
As of today, Indonesia has recorded a total of 218,382 Covid-19 cases, more than 20 times the total 9,915 cases in Malaysia, whereas India recorded a total of 4.85 million Covid-19 cases, the country with the second-highest cumulative number of confirmed coronavirus cases globally, behind the US.
“Since the Covid-19 outbreak, MOH has developed a treatment protocol, which is updated based on the recommendations of international bodies such as the World Health Organization (WHO), scientific study, and effectiveness of treatment on patients in Malaysia and abroad,” Dr Adham stated in a written Parliament answer to Senator Dr Nuing Jeluing (PBB) on September 9.
“To date, there is no specific medication to treat Covid-19. The latest treatment protocol is based on the clinical stage of Covid-19, clinical status of the patients, laboratory and radiological test results, as well as patient treatment plans.”
Dr Nuing had asked the health minister to state the latest status of the Covid-19 pandemic in the country. He also asked the ministry to declare the total number of Covid-19 cases, death incidents, and recovered patients. Dr Nuing asked if any problems had occurred during coronavirus testing, as well as treatment protocols adopted by MOH.
Dr Adham stated that MOH announces detailed statistics on Covid-19 cases every day through “CPRC Ministry of Health Malaysia ”which can be accessed through the Telegram application.
According to MOH, Covid-19 patients in the country are classified in five stages:
Stage 1: Asymptomatic
Stage 2: Symptomatic without pneumonia
Stage 3: Symptomatic with pneumonia
Level 4: Symptoms with pneumonia and require oxygen support
Level 5: Critical patients with multiorgan involvement
Generally, all Covid-19 patients will be given symptomatic treatment to treat the patient’s symptoms, such as providing fever medicine as well as optimal nutritional care and taking care of a balanced blood circulatory system.
Dr Adham noted that specific medications will be given based on the clinical stage of a patient. Treatment protocol for Covid-19 patients is as follows:
Antiviral, Antibiotic and Immuno-modulatory Treatments
Antiviral drugs like Favipravir and immunomodulatory drugs like dexamethasone will be given to improve the response of the body’s immune system. Antibiotics will be given if the patient is suspected or confirmed to have a bacterial infection.
Prophylaxis Treatment for Venous Thromboembolism
Blood thinner drugs like low molecular weight heparin enoxaparin will be given. This treatment is only given to patients who are in the stage 4 and 5 to prevent blood clots in the blood vessels (venous thromboembolism) which can cause death. Prophylaxis generally prevents infections.
Haemodynamic Support
Intravenous fluid or infusion treatment will be given to patients to maintain haemodynamics and avoid the occurrence of a life-threatening acute shock. Inotropic medications are also given to patients if needed.
Besides these treatments, the patients will be given prophylaxis medication to avoid stress ulcer.
