Covid-19: 10 new cases, mostly imported

CORONAVIRUS | Malaysia today recorded 10 new Covid-19 cases, the majority of which are imported.

Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, in a statement today, said the seven imported cases were all Malaysians who contracted the virus abroad.

He added that there were only three new local transmission comprising two Malaysians and one non-citizen.

"The non-citizen case involves an arrested person in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan who was about to be transferred to prison," he said.

It is now a standard procedure to screen all persons who are to be sent to prison.

He said the two local transmissions involving Malaysians were one from a pre-surgery screening at Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz, UKM and another from the screening of health workers ending their posting at the Likas quarantine station in Sabah.

The new infections put the cumulative cases to date at 8,658.

Noor Hisham also reported 15 Covid-19 patients have been discharged from hospital, bringing the total recoveries to 8,461 or 97.7 percent of total cases.

The new figures are for the last 24 hours up until noon today.

To date, 76 people are still under treatment of which two are at the intensive care unit. Both need ventilators to breathe.

No new death was reported, maintaining the death toll at 121.

In a related development, Noor Hisham said the Pudu cluster of infections which was first discovered on May 10 had been resolved.

In total, 3,387 people were screened and 80 people were found to be positive with Covid-19.

They comprise 69 people from Bangladesh, seven from Myanmar, two from Indonesia and two Malaysians.

He said among the factors that led to the spread of the virus was due to cramped accommodation for workers.

Noting that today is also polling day for the Chini by-election, he said the Health Ministry had implemented various measures to ensure voters abide by the standard operating procedures to curb the spread of Covid-19.

He said voters will have their temperature recorded and those who fail the screening or have Covid-19-like symptoms will have to vote at a separate tent.

Noor Hisham reiterated for Malaysians to avoid crowded places, confined spaces, and close conversations which he referred to as the "3Cs", as a precaution against Covid-19.

He also reminded Malaysians to wash their hands with soap, wear a face mask in public and heed warnings from the Health Ministry, referred to as the "3Ws". - Mkini