Lockdowns won’t stop rise in Covid numbers, say virologists

[superadmin]

GEORGE TOWN: The number of Covid-19 cases in the country will continue to rise regardless of lockdowns as highly infectious strains make their presence felt, according to two virologists from Universiti Sains Malaysia.

They say a semblance of normalcy may return when most Malaysians have been vaccinated, the number of severe cases drops and the virus becomes endemic.

Dr Kumitaa Theva Das and Dr Muhammad Amir Yunus were responding to former prime minister Najib Razak, who recently asked why the numbers had remained high despite another MCO.

Kumitaa said it was almost certain that a more infectious strain was in the midst and the positivity rate was expected to go up.

Referring to a recent study of 64 countries, she said the number of infections caused by the Delta variant went up by 97% in comparison to the one first seen in Wuhan, China.

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