KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 18 — Ministry of Health (MoH) has revealed today that cumulatively 1,771 hospital staff members have been infected by Covid-19 as of today, with nurses contributing the highest number of those infected.

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham said that most cases happened during the third wave of Covid-19 pandemic, including 43 new cases today, and around a third of the infections coming from their respective communities.

"A total of 1,359 (76.7 per cent) of those cases occurred during the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, including 43 new cases reported today,” he wrote in a statement today.

Out of the hospitals in Klang Valley, Tuanku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital Klang leads with 54 cases, followed by Serdang Hospital (29), Sungai Buloh Hospital (15), Kuala Lumpur Hospital (10), Ampang Hospital (five) and Selayang Hospital (four).

A total of 587 cases (33.1 per cent) of the infections involving the staff nationwide came from the community, 565 (31.9 per cent) from fellow healthcare staff, 152 (8.6 per cent) from patients that had not been found positive, 58 (3.3 per cent) unknown and 409 (23.1 per cent) still under investigation.

Out of all medical positions, nurses make up the highest proportion topping the list with 690 cases, followed by medical officers (211), hospital attendants (146), assistant medical officers (144) and graduate medical officers (84).

Dr Noor Hisham said that 280 medical staff are currently receiving treatment in hospitals and in stable condition with an 82.4 per cent recovery rate.

"Meanwhile, a total of 1,697 health workers nationwide are undergoing Home Surveillance Order (HSO) either at the residence or at the quarantine station,” he said.

He added that as of today, 72 medical staff of Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang are observing HSO.

Meanwhile in Serdang Hospital, a total of 57 medical staff and patients were infected and are currently receiving treatment in Sungai Buloh Hospital.