KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 21 – New daily Covid-19 numbers rose past the 3,000-case mark again today, with 3,140 reported.

This is a jump of 551 from yesterday’s 2,589 cases, which was the first time the number dipped below 3,000 in seven months.

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the total number of Covid-19 cases detected in the country so far was now 2,724,684.

He said that 58 of today’s cases were imported into the country from overseas, brought over by 51 locals and seven foreigners.

“Of the 3,140 new Covid-19 cases today, only 64 cases are in category 3, 4 and 5 — which require hospitalisation.

“The remaining 3,076 cases are in category 1 and 2, which only require quarantine either at home, if suitable, or a designated quarantine centre,” he said.

Dr Noor Hisham added that as of 12pm today, 86 new Covid-19 cases were also reported among flood victims at flood relief centres.

“75 cases were identified upon testing at the PPS, while another 11 already tested positive for Covid-19 and were quarantined at home,” said Dr Noor Hisham.

This brings the total number of Covid-19 cases among flood victims to 267.

He added that there are currently 353 patients being treated in intensive care units (ICU), with 275 confirmed positive with Covid-19, and another 78 either suspected, probable or under investigation for Covid-19.

“Out of that number, 189 patients need ventilators to help them breathe, of which 125 are confirmed positive cases and 64 more either suspected, probable or under investigation for Covid-19,” he said.

Dr Noor Hisham also shared that four new Covid-19 clusters were identified over the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of active clusters in the country to 247.

On a brighter note, 4,278 people have recovered from Covid-19 today, bringing the total number of recovered cases in Malaysia to 2,642,469 or 97 per cent.

Malaysia’s rate of infection currently stands at 0.91, with Pahang and Penang sharing the top spot for highest infectivity rate, at 1.0.

This is followed by Terengganu (0.99), Kuala Lumpur (0.97) and Negri Sembilan, Johor and Labuan, all at 0.96.