23 cases involving variants of concern detected, says Noor Hisham

The health ministry has detected 23 cases of Covid-19 variants of concern (VOC) as a result of continuous genomic surveillance from June 3 to 8, namely 19 Beta variant cases (B.1.351) and four Delta variant cases (B.1.617.2).

In a Facebook post, health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the Beta variant cases comprised eight cases in Selangor, three in Putrajaya, two each in Kuala Lumpur, Melaka and Kedah, and one each in Perak and Perlis.

He said two cases of the Delta variant were detected each in Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur.

Noor Hisham said the cumulative number of Covid-19 cases categorised as VOCs and variants of interest (VOIs) stood at 161 as of yesterday.

Of the total, 145 cases were VOC while 16 cases were listed as VOI.

The total VOC cases reported comprised 123 cases of the Beta variant, 13 cases of the Delta variant, and nine cases of the Alpha variant (B.1.1.7), while the VOI cases registered were 12 cases of the Theta variant (P. 3), three cases of the Eta variant (B.1.525) and one case of the Kappa variant (B.1.617.1).

“The ministry will continue to strengthen infectious disease control activities including continuing genomic surveillance for SARS-CoV-2, increasing Covid-19 screening tests, conducting contact detection and case isolation, as well as other public health measures to curb the spread of these variants in the community,” he said.

Noor Hisham also advised the public to register for Covid-19 vaccination to help the country achieve herd immunity.