KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 9 — The Health Ministry reported 959 new Covid-19 cases in the country in the past 24 hours, alongside five deaths.

Selangor accounted for the highest number of cases by state with 277 cases. This was followed by Sabah with 203 cases, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said in a news conference.

He added that 1,068 people recovered and were discharged from hospitals today.

The number of active cases in Malaysia currently totals 10,748, while the number of cumulative cases here stands at 76,265.

Other than Selangor and Sabah, the states and Federal Territories that recorded new cases today were Kuala Lumpur (129 cases), Pahang (119 cases), Johor (100 cases), Negri Sembilan (33 cases), Kelantan (17 cases), Kedah (16 cases), Melaka (two cases) and Labuan (one case).

Dr Noor Hisham said that only six cases recorded today were imported, while the remainder were local transmissions.

He also said that all five people who died today were Malaysian males aged between 60 and 82, four of whom had records of pre-existing conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and gout.

“There are 127 Covid-19 patients currently warded in intensive care units (ICU), with 61 of them needing breathing assistance,” he added.