KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 2 ― The Health Ministry today announced a new record high for both the daily Covid-19 fatality rate and patients being treated in intensive care units (ICU) at 219 and 1,063, respectively.

The previous record for the Covid-19 daily death rate stood at 207 on July 26 and 27, while the record for highest cases receiving treatment in ICU was 1,062 two days ago.

Today’s new death rate pushed the cumulative total to 9,403 since the pandemic arrived in Malaysia.

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah also mentioned in his daily Covid-19 statement that 532 patients needed breathing assistance.

Of today’s deaths, 21 were classified as brought-in-dead.

All but 18 of those who died were Malaysians.

He added that 43 did not have pre-existing health problems.

"A total of 219 death cases today involving 105 cases in Selangor, 41 cases in Kuala Lumpur, 24 cases in Johor, nine in Melaka, eight cases in Pahang, seven cases in Negri Sembilan, six cases each in Kedah and Perak, four cases each in Kelantan and Terengganu, three cases in Sabah, as well as one case each in Perlis and Labuan,” Dr Noor Hisham said in a statement.