Day: November 12, 2021

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 12 — A total of 2,472,098 individuals or 78.5 percent of adolescents, aged between 12 and 17, have completed their COVID-19 vaccination as of yesterday, according to the Health Ministry.

Based on the Health Ministry’s data on the COVIDNOW portal, 95.1 per cent of the adult population, or 22,258,551 individuals have completed the vaccination and 22,843,780 individuals have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 22,843,780.

There are still 1,031,946 individuals, or 4.4 per cent of the adult population yet to receive the vaccination.

Overall, a total of 24,730,649 individuals, or 75.7 per cent of the population in Malaysia have completed the COVID-19 vaccination.

A total of 143,662 doses of the vaccine were dispensed yesterday, of which 42,888 doses were for the second dose recipients, 8,449 doses as first dose and 92,325 doses as booster dose, bringing the total number of doses administered under the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK) to 50,946,620, including 825,497 booster doses.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

TUMPAT, Nov 12 — It is fish galore and time to cast their fishing nets for villagers of Kampung Sri Tujoh here, when the sluice gates are opened following heavy rains during the monsoon season.

A villager, Zakaria Mamat, 52, said each year the monsoon season brings a bountiful harvest of fish such as keli, sepat and patin, as an alternative source of income.

“Since Wednesday, after the gates were opened to prevent flooding and allow water to flow out to Sungai Tapang and into the sea, villagers have been busy fishing at various spots in the village.

“It is a good time to fish when the gates are opened as there will be an abundance supply and yesterday alone we managed to catch a fair amount of toman, keli , sepat and patin,” he told Bernama when met at Kampung Sri Tujoh, here today.

Elaborating, Zakaria, who works as a labourer, said it was important to know the proper fishing technic to take advantage of the abundant supply.

“As soon as the gates are opened, the water will flow out rapidly forming vortexes, so there is no point casting your nets when this is happening.

“As the vortexes begin to slow down, bubbles will appear, and for those experienced, this is the right time to cast their fishing nets,” said Zakaria who was delighted with his catch.

Despite the fishing frenzy, Zakaria said it was important to be cautious and remain alert to prevent any untoward incidents during the monsoon.

Earlier the Malaysian Meterological Department annonced that heavy rains are expected in Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Johor from November until early January, following the transition of the northeast monsoon which is expected to begin from Nov 3 until l March next year.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 12 — Realising that grassroots sports have not been able to capture much attention in Malaysia, the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) has taken the initiative to create a new sports channel, ‘mySukan TV’ which will focus on broadcasting grassroots sports matches and tournaments.

Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu said the online television channel, powered by KBS social conglomerate, Impact Integrated, was an effort to expand the scope of grassroots sports development programmes and make them more accessible to the community.

“The main programme on mySukan TV include live broadcasts of grassroots sports matches or tournaments right from the primary school level in Malaysia to the international level, as well as daily sports info-and tip-sharing programmes, news as well as talk shows involving athletes, coaches and sports agencies,” he said in a statement today.

At the same time, Ahmad Faizal also welcomed strategic collaboration with the private sector, not only as sponsors but also in sharing their knowledge and giving their supports to the initiative.

Meanwhile, Impact Integrated chief executive officer Ahmed Faris Amir said among the main focus of the channel was to provide exposure and opportunities for grassroots sports activists to achieve sustainability which would create opportunities for them to generate economy and income by broadcasting events and sports matches live on the mySukan TV website or its social media platforms.

Ahmed Faris also expressed hope that the channel can inspire Malaysians to support grassroots sports while leading a more active and healthy lifestyle.

More information on mySukan TV programmes and activities can be obtained at www.mysukan.tv or its social media platforms, Facebook & Instagram @mysukan.tv, Twitter @MySukan_TV and YouTube @mySukan TV.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA TERENGGANU, Nov 12 — The bed occupancy rate at intensive care units (ICU) for COVID-19 patients in Terengganu is alarming, at 84 per cent so far, said State Health director Datuk Dr Kasemani Embong.

He said ICU bed usage had increased following a hike in the number of COVID-19 category five patients over the past two weeks.

“When the inter-state travel restriction was lifted and Terengganu began to move to phase four (National Recovery Plan), we already foresee an increase in cases,” he told reporters after the handover of the Hybrid ICU Ward at Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital, here today.

He said the 10 additional ICU ward beds brings the total number of ICU beds for COVID-19 patients in Terengganu to 43, adding that the hybrid ward would begin operating from next week.

Meanwhile, Dr Kasemani said it is estimated that a total of 324,000 individuals in Terengganu would be getting their COVID-19 booster shots and some 30,000 frontline workers are included in the list.

Besides the frontliners who are Health Mininistry (MOH) and non-MOH staff, senior citizens aged 60 and above and patients with comorbiditiies have also been given an appointment date for the booster dose through the MySejahtera application.

“Private clinic registered with MOH will be administering the booster shots for those who have received an appointment through MySejahtera,” he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

GEORGE TOWN, Nov 12 — Heavy rain since early today in Penang, especially on the island have caused some areas to be hit by flash floods.

The rain, which lasted for about six hours since 3 am, caused several roads and houses in low -lying areas to be under up to half a metre of water.

The areas affected by the flash floods included Kampung Masjid Hisham Yahya, Jalan P. Ramlee, Jalan Kuantan, Jalan Pintal Tali, Jalan Macalister, Lorong Ngah Aboo, Jalan Anson, Lebuh Mcnair, Lebuh Nanking, Lebuh Katz, Pasar Lebuh Cecil, Jalan Timah Simpang Kg Jawa Lama, Lebuh Carnarvon, Lebuh Victoria and Pengkalan Weld.

Penang Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said so far no residents had been evacuated.

“The Penang City Council (MBPP) workers have been working since early today to clean the drains to prevent it from clogging as it could worsen the situation,” he said when contacted today.

Phee said the state government was monitoring the situation as the rain is expected in the state until late this afternoon.

He advised residents whose houses were flooded to immediately contact the authorities for help.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 12 — The Health Ministry is monitoring hospitals and other leading indicators as the country’s COVID-19 infectivity rate (Rt) has increased to 1.0.

Minister Khairy Jamaluddin in his tweet today also urged those who have been given an appointment for a COVID-19 booster dose to go and take it.

“The elderly, where possible, should avoid crowded places. Practise #TRIIS (test, report, isolate, inform, seek),” he said.

The Rt value refers to the level of infectivity of COVID-19 that is the number of cases that can be infected by one positive case.

Meanwhile, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah in his tweet said the increase in the infectivity rate to 1.0 means that the daily tally pattern of COVID-19 cases will get flattened.

“Our concern is if the daily tally were on the rise,” he said.

In the tweet, Dr Noor Hisham also urged the public to continue complying with the standard operating procedures and the vulnerable to attend their appointments for booster shots.

He also expressed concern over the increase of positive COVID-19 cases in the country over the past four days with 6,323 new cases reported on Thursday.

Prior to this, the country’s daily tally of COVID-19 had shown a declining trend with only 4,343 new cases reported on Sunday.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency