KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 28 — The Health Ministry today reported 801 new Covid-19 cases today and eight deaths in the past 24 hours.

The number of active cases has crossed the 10,000-mark. 

Today’s deaths raise the tally to 246 since the virus broke out in Malaysia.

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said seven of the eight deaths recorded today were in Sabah while Selangor recorded one. The deceased were aged between 35 and 73.

"All except one had a history of chronic health conditions,” he said, adding that the cumulative Covid-19 death toll for Sabah has hit 114, of which 101 were reported this month alone.

Dr Noor Hisham explained that of today’s 801 new cases, 799 were transmitted locally while two were infected while abroad in Iran and Saudi Arabia.

A total of 10,123 people are still being treated, with 94 receiving intensive care, of which 25 require respiratory assistance.

The total number of recoveries stands at 19,072, as today 573 patients were discharged. 

Dr Noor Hisham then added that Sabah continued to report the highest number of new cases followed by Selangor 88 cases and Labuan 29 cases.

Other states which recorded Kedah (28), Sarawak (27), Negri Sembilan (24), Penang (19), KL (13), Terengganu (11), Johor (eight) and Perak (six).

No new cases reported in Putrajaya, Perlis, Kelantan, Pahang and Melaka.

He said most of these cases came from existing clusters and screening of close contacts of positive cases.