Page 150 - MALAYSIA HEALTH SECTOR RESPONSE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC: PERSPECTIVES FROM THE FIELD

PART 7: LABORATORY RESPONSES TO THE THIRD
COVID-19 WAVE IN MALAYSIA

7.1 Laboratory Responses in Malaysia

Laboratory support has been proven as immensely crucial in flattening the
curve during the first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in
Malaysia. MOH Malaysia had managed to amplify the laboratory testing
capacity to cope and meet the demands of the rising numbers of COVID-19
cases.

As of 10th October 2020, the laboratory capacity for testing in Malaysia was
1
41,354 samples a day . The number of individuals tested for COVID-19 in
Malaysia (51.96 individuals per 1,000 population) was higher than in South
1
Korea, 46.41 tests per 1,000 population . The positive rate then was only
1,2
0.80% .

350 309.61
No. of tests per 1,000 population 250 168.83 205.74 211.3
300

200

150

100

50

0 17.72 46.41 51.96
Japan South Malaysia Singapore New Canada Australia
Korea Zealand
Country

Figure 7.1: Number of tests conducted by several neighbouring countries,
per 1,000 population, as of 10th October 2020
1,2
(Source: Our World in Data, Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford )

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