Five Malaysians test positive for Covid-19 in Brunei

Five Malaysians have tested positive for Covid-19 in Brunei, said Foreign Affairs Minister Hishammuddin Hussein today.

In a statement, Hishammuddin said he was informed of this by the country's Foreign Affairs second minister Erywan Mohd Yusof during a video conference call today.

"I was informed that five of our Malaysians have been confirmed with Covid-19 in Brunei and Dato Erywan assured me that they are receiving the best possible care," he said.

As of March 23, Brunei has reported 88 cases of Covid-19.

Brunei's first reported Covid-19 case was a 53-year old local man who participated in a tabligh gathering at Sri Petaling mosque in Kuala Lumpur last month.

"Around 49 percent of Brunei's cases are from the tabligh cluster, just below our 62 percent of cases," Hishammuddin said.

The Malaysian Health Ministry was only aware of other Covid-19 cases in regards to the gathering after it was informed by its Brunei counterpart about the latter's first case on March 9.

About 14,500 are said to have participated in the gathering though the event's organising committee claimed that the attendance was only 12,000.

Malaysian authorities are in the midst of tracking those who have yet to come forward for screening. - Mkini