KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 13 — Malaysia’s daily Covid-19 cases recorded a big jump today at 3,684 new infections, a third consecutive day that numbers have hovered above the 3,000-mark.

This brings the total number of Covid-19 cases in the country to 2,798,917.

Today’s numbers show a rising trend of new cases, as the country recorded 3,198 cases yesterday, and 3,175 the day before.

Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said that of today’s cases, only 34 or 0.9 per cent are in category 3, 4 and 5 — which require hospitalisation.

The remaining 3,650 or 99.1 per cent are in category 1 and 2, which require mandatory self quarantine.

Of the 3,684 cases, 321 were imported involving 233 Malaysians and 88 non-citizens and with the remaining 3, 363 cases locally transmitted, involving 2,753 Malaysians and 142 foreigners.

“There are currently 192 patients being treated in intensive care units (ICU), with 172 confirmed to have Covid-19.

“Of what number, 91 patients require ventilators to support their breathing — which includes 70 confirmed Covid-19 cases,” he said.

Eight new Covid-19 clusters have also been detected in the country over the past 24 hours, bringing the number of active clusters to 178.

Malaysia’s national infectivity rate currently stands at 0.99, with Sabah, Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur having the highest rate of infection, at 1.08.