Covid-19: New high of 1,755 cases, two new fatalities bring death toll to 279 (updated)

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia recorded 1,755 new Covid-19 infections, setting a new high for the most number of new positive cases in a day.

This brings the total number of Covid-19 cases in the country to 38,189, with 11,530 active cases.

INTERACTIVE: Today’s figures (Malaysia)

Previously, the highest number of new cases in a day was 1,240 on Oct 26.

Two new deaths were recorded, pushing the new death toll to 279.

“Sabah has 1,199 cases, making up 68.3% of the total new positive cases today, ” said Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said in a statement on Friday.

This is the first time Sabah has recorded four-digit new cases in a day, and the highest number of new positive cases in the state so far.

The two deaths were involving a 67-year-old woman in Sabah and a 54-year-old man in Kedah. Both were Malaysians.

Of the 1,755 new infections, three were imported cases, involving two Malaysians and one foreigner.

Penang recorded 192 new cases from existing clusters while Selangor had 164 cases.

“A total of 726 recoveries were recorded, bringing the cumulative number of fully recovered cases to 26,380 or 69.1% of the total cases, ” said Dr Noor Hisham.

He said three new clusters were identified - the Mampulut cluster in Keningau, Sabah, the Fores cluster in the Klang Valley and Rengas cluster in Kuala Kangsar, Perak.

For the Mampulut cluster, Dr Noor Hisham said there were 28 patients who tested positive for the virus.

“The Fores cluster involves the Petaling, Gombak and Klang districts in Selangor as well as the Kepong district in Kuala Lumpur.

“The index case was identified on Oct 17 and has been admitted to the Sungai Buloh hospital, ” he said, adding that 20 other positive cases were detected from the Fores cluster.

The Rengas cluster involves nine positive cases apart from the index patient, while 281 other individuals are awaiting results for their test.

INTERACTIVE: Today’s figures (Worldwide)

Dr Noor Hisham said 83 positive patients were currently being treated in intensive care units while 32 others required ventilator support.

“Three clusters are declared to have ended, namely the Bah Lada, Atap and Bah Sahabat clusters, with no other cases recorded, ” he added.