Melaka polls will lead to new Covid-19 surge, says think tank

[superadmin]

PETALING JAYA: There will be a surge in new Covid-19 positive cases because of the Melaka state election, says the head of a health think tank.

Azrul Mohd Khalib, chief executive of Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy, said it was most likely that there would be “breakthrough cases” in which the majority would be those already vaccinated.

“This will definitely happen. What we are concerned about are the number of people needing hospitalisation due to severe illness, and dying as a result,” he told FMT in response to a government ban on political and social gatherings for the election campaign.

Azrul said election rallies and gatherings would still go ahead despite warnings, and SOPs would be “selectively observed or ignored altogether” as politicians would want to be seen shaking hands, speaking without masks, and glad-handing supporters.

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