COVID-19 CASES SURPASS 300,000

2,437 new infections with 9 deaths recorded, as well as 9 new clusters

THE total number of Covid-19 cases in Malaysia breached the 300,000 mark after 2,437 new infections were recorded up to noon yesterday.

The overall infection from the pandemic now stands at 300,752, with 26,205 being active cases.

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, on his official Twitter handle, said only two were imported cases.

Of the 2,435 local transmissions, 1,226 involved Malaysians.

On recoveries, 3,251 were reported yesterday, taking the total to 273,417.

Currently, 202 cases are being treated in the Intensive Care Unit with 93 requiring ventilators.

On deaths, Dr Noor Hisham said nine fatalities, involving eight Malaysians and one noncitizen, aged between 57 and 102, were reported to the National Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre yesterday.

Of the total, three were reported in Selangor, two in Sarawak and one each in Melaka, Kelantan, Perak and Johor.

“Selangor reported the highest daily cases at 914. Of the total, 823 were linked to clusters and closecontact screenings conducted on the ground.

“This is followed by Johor, which reported 340 cases, and Kuala Lumpur with 337 cases.”

Dr Noor Hisham also said the ministry identified nine new clusters, all from workplaces, in Johor, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Penang.

The four new clusters reported in Johor are Jalan Timah Tiga, Jalan Tanjung Empat, Jalan Desa Tropika and Batu Empat.

The three clusters in Selangor were named Perusahaan Jalan Bukit, Industri Waja and Jalan Selisik.

The Bukit Kiara construction site cluster is in Kuala Lumpur and the Jalan Sungai Baong cluster is in Penang.

He said the 85 cases logged on Friday were related to prison clusters, namely the Tempok Tapah cluster, Tembok Taiping cluster, Tembok Sungai Udang cluster, Jalang Sungai Jelok Prison cluster and Jalan Harapan Prison cluster.

With the ending of three clusters — Jalan Rami Tiga, Lingkaran Maluri and Sri Plentong — yesterday, Malaysia now has 491 active clusters.

PIC BY AZRUL EDHAM MOHD AMINUDDIN A medical officer briefing some foreign workers before their Covid-19 screening at a medical centre in Seremban yesterday.