KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 7 — Malaysia recorded a massive jump in new Covid-19 cases today, the Health Ministry has announced.

Of the 62 new cases registered today, 56 were local transmissions with the remaining six imported.

According to the ministry, 50 of these cases originated from the Benteng Lahad Datu cluster in Sabah which first emerged on September 1.

The Benteng Lahad Datu cluster has recorded 66 positive Covid-19 cases to date, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said today.

Today’s figure is the highest since the recovery movement control order (RMCO) came into effect on June 10.

Previously, the highest number of daily reported cases during this period was 43 as registered on June 13.

Of the six imported Covid-19 cases reported, the ministry said two are from Turkey, two from Bangladesh, one from Indonesia and one from Egypt.

Including today’s figure, the latest cumulative number of positive cases in the country is now 9,459 with 207 active cases to date. Six are undergoing treatment in intensive care and four require breathing assistance.

No new deaths were registered today, with the overall number of Covid-19 fatalities in Malaysia recorded at 128 to date.

Nine patients were discharged today, raising the number of recoveries to date to 9,124.

Separately, the ministry also announced the official end of four Covid-19 clusters — PUI Sivagangga, Muda, Meranti and Kurau — bringing the total number of clusters that have finished to 95.