Covid-19: Ten new Delta variant cases detected in country, bringing total to 199, says Health DG

PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry’s Institute of Medical Research (IMR) has detected 10 new Covid-19 cases of the Delta variant (B.1.617.2) in the country.

In his Covid-19 press update on Wednesday (July 28), Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said this brings the number of Delta cases found in Malaysia to 199.

Three of the new Delta cases were detected in Melaka, while Kedah and Johor have two cases each.

Terengganu, Perlis and Selangor each have one new Delta case.

The highly contagious Delta variant is said to originate from India and is seen to be the cause of the spike in infections worldwide.

On Wednesday (July 28), Malaysia reported a new daily record of 17,405 Covid-19 cases.

Dr Noor Hisham said before this, the country has also detected 206 cases linked to the Beta variant (from South Africa) and 14 of the Alpha variant (United Kingdom).

Delta, along with Beta and Alpha, has been classified as “variants of concern” (VOC) by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Malaysia has also previously detected 13 cases linked to the Theta variant, four of the Kappa variant and three Eta variant cases.

The WHO classifies the Theta, Kappa and Eta variants as “variants of interest” (VOI).