Health Ministry: Six new Covid-19 cases bring total to 9,391, death toll stays at 128 (updated)

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia recorded six new Covid-19 cases, bringing the total number of infections to 9,391 as of noon Saturday (Sept 5).

There were no deaths reported within the last 24 hours, which leaves the death toll at 128, said Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah in a statement on Saturday.

Of the six new cases, four were imported and two involved local transmissions.

Of the four imported cases, two were Malaysians and the other two were foreigners.

For the two local transmission cases, Dr Noor Hisham said one was from the Telaga cluster in Kedah while the other was from a Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (Sari) case at the Lahad Datu Hospital in Sabah.

The new case from the Telaga cluster involved case 9391, a close contact of the index case at the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital.

"He was found to be Covid-19 positive after being screened on Sept 3," he said.

To date, Dr Noor Hisham said 3,458 people have been screened from the Telaga cluster, with nine testing positive, 744 negative and 705 others still waiting for test results.

"There are five positive Covid-19 cases being treated in intensive care units (ICU) and three cases require ventilator support," he said.

He also said that there were currently 150 active cases in the country.

Dr Noor Hisham added that 21 patients were discharged, bringing the total to 9,113.

On another matter, Dr Noor Hisham said there was still no Covid-19 vaccine that the World Health Organisation (WHO) had proven to be effective and safe for use.

"The WHO held a media press conference on Sept 4 – in that session, the WHO stressed that vaccines are effective in curbing the spread of diseases such as smallpox, polio and others.

"However, the effectiveness and the safety of a vaccine is an important factor. This matter cannot be taken lightly. As such, the vaccine has to go through several tests and phases," he said.