Cases linger over 20,000-mark for fourth consecutive day

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s daily Covid-19 infections lingered over the 20,000-mark for the fourth day in a row, with 20,670 new infections recorded yesterday.

More than 20,000 cases were logged since Wednesday, with 20,780 infections, followed by a record high of 21,668 on Thursday before dipping slightly to 21,468 on Friday.

The latest figure of 20,670 yesterday brings the cumulative case total to 1,384,353.

Selangor recorded the highest number of cases at 6,606, followed by Kuala Lumpur (2,028) and Kedah (1,796).

The number of active Covid-19 cases in the country stands at 243,942.

A total of 96.7% of the new 20,670 cases yesterday consisted of those in Category 1 and 2, or those who are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms.

“Some 3.3% of the cases are in Categories 3 to 5,” said Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah in a statement yesterday.

Category 3 Covid-19 patients are those with symptoms of pneumonia, while patients in Category 4 are those who are symptomatic, have pneumonia and requiring oxygen.

Category 5 are critical cases and are in need of respiratory aid.

Some 87.2% of the new infections yesterday involved those who have yet to receive any vaccines or have not completed their doses.

“Those who have been fully vaccinated comprised 12.8% or 2,646 of the total 20,670 new cases,” Dr Noor Hisham said, adding that this group has also completed the two-week period after their second dose.

There were 260 deaths, bringing the cumulative death toll in the country to 12,228 cases. Of the 260 deaths, 195 were Malaysians while 65 were foreigners.

Some 68 patients were brought in dead, involving 37 citizens and 29 foreigners.

“Selangor topped the list with the most fatalities with 77 deaths, followed by Kuala Lumpur (56), Johor (50) and Perak (18),” Dr Noor Hisham said.

Most or 199 of the deceased had comorbidities, while 61 did not have any underlying illnesses.

“There are 34 new clusters, with 20 stemming from workplaces,” Dr Noor Hisham said.

He added that Malaysia’s Covid19 infectivity rate (Rt) is at 1.05, based on latest data on Friday.

“The state with the highest Rt value is Perlis (1.41), followed by Sabah, Kelantan and Penang which each recorded a value of 1.18,” he said.

The Rt value refers to the average number of people that a person who has the coronavirus has infected.