PETALING JAYA, June 8 (Sin Chew Daily) – Public health experts are of the opinion that slower daily increases in COVID-19 cases in recent days does not mean the pandemic is under control, nor does it reflect the actual situation now.

We not only need to see the daily new infection numbers but also the mortality rate, the R0/Rt value, the number of tests conducted each day and the positivity rate as well.

Universiti Malaya public health specialist Dr Victor CW Hoe said members of the public should not just look at the daily new infection numbers alone, but must also be concerned about the number of new deaths each day.

"If the number of deaths keeps rising, it means the situation is still out of control."

Additionally, the more complicated R0/Rt value should be a better indicator of the actual situation of the outbreak.

"We don't just look at the value for one day, but the overall trend."

He also said daily new infection numbers are affected by the number of tests conducted.

On the number of tests conducted each day, Dr Hoe admitted that it might be difficult for the health ministry to provide the exact number as the tests are not only conducted by the ministry but also other institutions, labs and workplaces.

Meanwhile, UKM's health economics, hospital and health management Professor Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh agreed that we must also look at the total number of tests conducted, the positivity rate and R0 value.

She is of the view that the health ministry must expand the scope of screening as what the Selangor state government is currently doing.

If possible, she said the health ministry should also publish the number of tests conducted each day, including RTK Ag and PCR tests, as well as positivity rate and daily R0 value.