Covid-19 (March 23): 625 new cases in Selangor, 1,384 nationwide, six deaths

 

COVID-19 | The Health Ministry today reported 1,384 new Covid-19 cases and six new deaths. 

The number of active Covid-19 cases in the country was on a steady decline since reaching a peak of 52,186 on Feb 10. 

However, over the past seven days, the rate of decline appeared to have slowed. The latest number of active cases is 14,454 while the average for the past week was 14,538.

• Active cases: 14,454
• Patients in ICUs: 148
• Intubated: 62

The Klang Valley had the largest portion of new cases (49 percent) followed by Johor (11.8 percent) and Sarawak (10.1 percent).

In Selangor (625 new cases), a single cluster - Subang Dua - saw 185 new cases reported today. This cluster was classified on March 17, involving a factory in USJ2.

Using the start of the second movement control order (MCO) on Jan 13 as a baseline, new cases in Sarawak and Penang are still trending upwards. 

Deaths

The six new deaths reported today brought the national death toll to 1,244.

The new deaths were reported in Selangor (2), Sarawak (2), Kelantan (1), and Johor (1).

The victims - all Malaysian nationals with comorbidities - were aged between 56 and 85. One victim - in Sibu, Sarawak - was brought to the hospital only after she had died.

Details of the victims are available on Malaysiakini's Covid-19 tracker site.

Clusters

The Health Ministry today reported that there are still 399 active Covid-19 clusters in the country, down from 509 on Feb 23. 

Apart from the aforementioned Subang Dua cluster, no other clusters reported new cases in the triple digits.

There were three new clusters classified by the Health Ministry today. All new clusters were detected through targeted screening of workplaces. 

Balakong Jaya Dua cluster
District(s): Hulu Langat and Kuala Selangor in Selangor
Locality/Source: A supermarket at Jalan Perindustrian Balakong Jaya 2/1, Kawasan Perindustrian Balakong, Seri Kembangan
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: March 20, targeted screening of workplaces
Total infected: 37 out of 72 screened

Jalan Indah Gemilang Satu cluster
District(s): Johor Bahru in Johor
Locality/Source: A factory at Jalan Indah Gemilang 1, Taman Perindustrian Gemilang, Ulu Tiram, Johor Bahru
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: March 21, targeted screening of workplaces
Total infected: 78 out of 259 screened

Teknologi Bukit Minyak cluster
District(s): Seberang Perai Utara, Seberang Perai Tengah, Seberang Perai Selatan and Barat Daya in Penang
Locality/Source: A factory at Taman Perindustrian Bukit Minyak, Simpang Ampat, Seberang Perai Selatan
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: March 12, targeted screening of workplaces
Total infected: 98 out of 1,685 screened - Mkini