At 3,108, new Covid-19 cases in Malaysia trend in the right direction

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 19 — The daily Covid-19 numbers in the country dipped below the 4,000-mark today, with 3,108 new cases recorded.

This is a decrease of 975 cases from yesterday’s 4,083 cases.

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said today’s figure brings the cumulative number of cases in Malaysia to 2,718,955 since the pandemic started.

“Of today’s 3,108 new cases, 57 cases or 1.8 per cent are in Category 3, 4 and 5 — which require hospitalisation.

“The remaining 3,051 or 98.2 per cent are in Category 1 and 2, which only require quarantine,” he said.

Dr Noor Hisham said that 37 of the total cases today were imported into the country, involving 31 locals and six foreigners.

He added that there are currently 390 patients being treated in intensive care units (ICU) nationwide, with 326 of them confirmed positive with Covid-19.

The remaining 64 patients are suspected, probable or cases under investigation of Covid-19.

“Of that number, 211 patients require assistance from a ventilator to help them breathe, with 143 of them confirmed positive for Covid-19 and 68 more suspected, probable or under investigation for Covid-19,” said the country’s top health official.

Dr Noor Hisham said that two new Covid-19 clusters have been identified in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of clusters ever detected in the country to 6,079.

This also brings the number of active Covid-19 clusters to 252.

Dr Noor Hisham also shared that 3,701 patients have recovered from the deadly disease, bringing the total number of recoveries to 2,634,381 or 96.9 per cent of the total cases.

As for the country’s rate of infection, it currently stands at 0.91, with Penang and Pahang being the states with the highest infectivity rate, each at 1.00.

This is followed by Terengganu (0.99) and Melaka (0.98).

Three states — Negri Sembilan, Kuala Lumpur and Perak — recorded 0.97 each.

Johor stands at 0.96, followed by Selangor (0.95) and Kedah (0.92).

Another three states — Perlis, Kelantan and Labuan — stand at 0.91 each.

This is followed by Putrajaya (0.90) and Sabah (0.83) with Sarawak currently in the spot for lowest rate of infection at 0.72.

Dr Noor Hisham said the Health Ministry will continue to monitor the development of Covid-19 infections in the country, as well as abroad through information obtained from the World Health Organisation (WHO).

“The Health Ministry will ensure that appropriate preventive and control measures are implemented on an ongoing basis,” he said.