KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 17 — Malaysia recorded 2,342 new Covid-19 cases today as compared to 3,010 cases yesterday.

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said this bring the cumulative number of Covid-19 cases nationwide now to 2,810,689.

"Out of the 2,342 cases, 2,162 cases were reported locally which involved 2,105 Malaysian or 97.4 per cent and 57 foreigners or 2.6 per cent,” he said in a statement.

He added that from the total cases reported today, 34 cases are in Categories 3, 4, and 5 while 2,308 case are in Categories 1 and 2.

Dr Noor Hisham also said 184 cases required treatment in intensive care units (ICU).

"Of the 184 cases, 132 patients have been confirmed of Covid-19 infection while the balance 52 cases are suspected, possible or still under investigation of Covid-19 infection,” he said.

"Eighty-seven patients require respiratory support with 52 confirmed Covid-19 cases while the rest are suspected, possible or still under investigation of Covid-19,” he added.

Dr Noor Hisham also said that Malaysia’s Covid-19 infectivity rate is currently at 1.00.

"Kuala Lumpur, Negri Sembilan, Sabah, Selangor and Melaka were among the states that recorded R0 value of 1.00 above while Sarawak, Perlis, Putrajaya and Labuan recorded R0 value of 0.00,” he said.

He also said six new Covid-19 clusters were reported in the last 24 hours bringing the total active clusters in the country to 177.

As for flood mitigation efforts, Dr Noor Hisham said there is only one temporary relief centre (PPS) operating in Johor.

"No new Covid-19 cases reported among the flood victims and no new clusters reported in any of the PPS,” he added.

He also said that no new infectious diseases were reported among flood victims.