Covid-19: Almost 99% of new cases in Categories One and Two

KUALA LUMPUR: Of the 3,229 new Covid-19 cases reported on Wednesday (Jan 19), 3,191 cases (98.8%) are in Categories One and Two, which show no or mild symptoms.

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the other 38 cases (1.2%) were either in categories Three (pneumonia), Four (pneumonia and requiring oxygen) and Five (critical and needing ventilators).

He said the cumulative figure of cases is now 2,817,163, as of noon Wednesday.

He said of the 3,229 cases, 2,990 are domestic cases.

There were 239 imported cases, comprising 175 Malaysians and 64 foreigners.

The number of recoveries stands at 2,848 cases, with 20 new clusters reported, bringing forward the amount of active clusters to 201, said Dr Noor Hisham in a statement Wednesday.

At the same time, he said 162 cases required treatment at intensive care units (ICU), with 76 individuals requiring respiratory aid.

Dr Noor Hisham said the R-naught level (RO), or infectivity rate for four states – Perlis, Labuan, Putrajaya and Sarawak – remained at zero.

The RO for Terengganu for (0.78), Kelantan (0.9), Perak (0.94), Penang (0.96), Pahang (0.97), remained below 1, said Dr Noor Hisham.

States with RO above 1 were Kuala Lumpur (1.08), Negri Sembilan (1.06), Melaka (1.04), Johor (1.03), Sabah (1.01), and Selangor (1.01).

Dr Noor Hisham said the Health Ministry would continue monitoring Covid-19 developments in the country and urged Malaysians to get vaccinated against Covid-19, as herd immunity will better protect Malaysians.

“The Health Ministry will also ensure that preventative steps and adequate control measures will continue to be implemented,” said Dr Noor Hisham.