The health sector says the number of coronavirus deaths, infections and hospitalisations have increased significantly.
Speaking during a media briefing at the Health Promotion Bureau today, Chief Coordinator of COVID-19 at the Ministry of Health, Director of Medical Technical Services Dr. Anwar Hamdani said daily COVID-infections have surpassed 1,000 while the number of COVID-fatalities and hospitalisations have also seen minor changes.
Dr. Hamdani said when compared to last week’s data there has been a 30% increase in COVID-infections this week while deaths have increased between 8-10%.
He said there has been a 4-5% increase in both, oxygen dependent patients and patients receiving Intensive Care Unit treatment.
Dr. Hamdani said these can be attributed to the highly transmissible Omicron coronavirus variant.
On a separate note, the Director of Medical Technical Services said two thirds of COVID-fatalities reported within the past few weeks are those who have not been fully vaccinated.
He reiterated that individuals who are not fully vaccinated carry the unfortunate risk of succumbing to the COVID-virus.
Dr. Hamdani from a technical point assured that coronavirus vaccines have not expired adding the government will never administer expired doses.
He said details of when the vaccines arrived in the country are recorded and stored according to a stringent procedure.
Dr. Hamdani said when a batch of vaccines are distributed, the relevant Medical Office of Health, hospital or other organisations involved in the vaccination drive are obligated to return data on which vaccine they received, the vaccine batch, and the manufacture and expiry dates.
