Covid-19 (Jan 25): 3,048 new cases, DG hopes situation will stabilise in 2 weeks

COVID-19 | The Health Ministry expressed hope that the number of new Covid-19 cases being reported will "stabilise" in two weeks, amidst new infections hitting its lowest point in 11 days.

Today, the Health Ministry reported 3,048 new cases.

Its director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said that the R-naught (R0) was 1.06, down from a high of 1.2.

"Perhaps tomorrow it will be lower than 1.06. We hope for a number of less than 1. 

"Hopefully, in two weeks, we will avoid a spike and see stability," he told reporters at a briefing today. 

Leading indicators:

• Active cases: 41,067 ↓ (607 less than the previous day)
• Patients in ICU: 261 ↓ (4 less than the previous day)
• Intubated patients: 101 ↓ (1 less than the previous day)
• Deaths: 11 

The Klang Valley reported the most number of new cases (44.7 percent) followed by Johor (17.4 percent) and Sabah (11.4 percent).

In Selangor, one in seven new Covid-19 cases were detected among those who had symptoms but were not linked to existing clusters. People with Covid-19 symptoms were more likely to spread the virus compared to those who were asymptomatic. 

Selangor (1,035)
Existing clusters: 35
New cluster(s): 78 (Sri Muda, Jalan Waja, dan Sungai Chemubong)
Close contacts: 607
Imported: 6
Other screenings: 309

Johor (529)
Existing clusters: 174
New cluster(s): 20 (Jalan Indah, Kampung Muhibbah, dan Jalan Firma Tiga)
Close contacts: 212
Other screenings: 123

Sabah (348)
Existing clusters: 36
New cluster(s): 2 (Industri Apas)
Close contacts: 235
Other screenings: 75

Kuala Lumpur (305)
Existing clusters: 21
New cluster(s): 14 (Jalan Kerinchi)
Close contacts: 100
Imported: 1
Other screenings: 169

Sarawak (120)
Existing clusters: 67
Close contacts: 22
Other screenings: 31

Pulau Pinang (110)
Existing clusters: 50
Close contacts: 32
Other screenings: 28

Perak (103)
Existing clusters: 36
Close contacts: 38
Imported: 1
Other screenings: 28

Negeri Sembilan (95)
Existing cluster: 57
New cluster(s): 1 (Bukit Palah)
Close contacts: 27
Other screenings: 10

Malacca (90)
Existing clusters: 48
New cluster(s): 11 (Bukit Palah)
Close contacts: 17
Other screenings: 14

Kelantan (89)
Existing clusters: 18
New cluster(s): 1 (Kampung Pahi)
Close contacts: 51
Other screenings: 19

Terengganu (79)
Existing clusters: 17
New cluster(s): 3 (Kampung Tualang)
Close contacts: 24
Other screenings: 35

Kedah (74)
Existing clusters: 8
Close contacts: 43
Other screenings: 23

Pahang (46)
Existing clusters: 2
New cluster(s): 10 (Taman Bahagia dan Kampung Bukit Lada)
Close contacts: 19
Other screenings: 15

Putrajaya (22)
Existing clusters: 2
Close contacts: 16
Other screenings: 4

Perlis (3)
Close contacts: 1
Other screenings: 2

Deaths

Of the 11 new deaths reported, three were in Sabah. The cumulative Covid-19 death toll for Sabah has reached 315, or 45.72 percent of the national total (689).

Sabah's share of Covid-19 deaths has been steadily reducing since peaking in late November at around 58 percent. The deaths in Klang Valley have been steadily growing in the same period and is now at 23.8 percent.

Details of the latest fatalities are as follows:  

Patient 152,479 - Male, 78, passed away at the Sungai Buloh Hospital, Selangor

Patient 172,106 - Male, 52, passed away at the Sibu Hospital, Sarawak

Patient 173,423 - Male, 55, body brought to the Kuala Penyu Hospital, Sabah

Patient 175,518 - Female, 71, passed away at the Sibu Hospital, Sarawak

Patient 175,775 - Male, 54, passed away at the Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM), Kota Bharu Hospital, Kelantan

Patient 175,861 - Male, 70, passed away at the Tengku Ampuan Afzan, Kuantan Hospital, Pahang

Patient 177,584 - Male, 75, passed away at the Selayang Hospital, Selangor

Patient 179,368 - Male, 82, passed away at the Raja Permaisuri Bainun, Ipoh Hospital, Perak

Patient 181,831 - Male, 77, body brought to the Duchess of Kent, Sandakan Hospital, Sabah

Patient 182,157 - Female, 54, passed away at the Selayang Hospital, Selangor

Patient 181,832 - Foreign male, 60, body brought to the Duchess of Kent, Sandakan Hospital, Sabah

Clusters

According to the Health Ministry, there are 348 active Covid-19 clusters in the country of which 69 had new cases today. 

Two clusters reported more than two-digit increases - Jalan Harapan (138) and Pasai clusters (136). 

The Jalan Harapan cluster originated from the Sungai Buloh Prison and has spread nationwide. The Pasai cluster is confined to Sibu, Sarawak.

The Health Ministry classified nine new Covid-19 clusters. Details are as follows: 

Ladang Segama cluster
District(s): Lahad Datu, Sabah
Locality/Source: Plantation in Segama Mukim
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Jan 17, targeted screening
Total infected: 22 out of 80 screened

Jalan Segama cluster
District(s): Lahad Datu, Sabah
Locality/Source: Work place in Jalan Segama
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Jan 20, index case with symptoms
Total infected: 20 out of 40 screened

Keluli Tujuh cluster
District(s): Johor Bahru, Johor
Locality/Source: Factory in the Pasir Gudang industrial area
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Jan 24, targeted screening
Total infected: 21 out of 91 screened

Jalan Tengar cluster
District(s): Jalan Tengar, Johor
Locality/Source: Factory in Jalan Tengar, Pasir Gudang
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Jan 24, targeted screening
Total infected: 8 out of 95 screened

Jalan Sebelas cluster
District(s): Hulu Langat, Selangor
Locality/Source: Factory along Jalan KPB 11A, Balakong
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Jan 24
Total infected: 83 out of 715 screened

Tapak Bina Sri Petaling cluster
District(s): Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur
Locality/Source: Construction site in Sri Petaling
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Jan 24
Total infected: 44 out of 261 screened

Bukit Emas cluster
District(s): Seremban, Rembau and Jempol, Negeri Sembilan
Locality/Source: A "public institution" in Bukit Emas, Seremban
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Jan 16, index case with symptoms
Total infected: 46 out of 448 screened

Tapak Bina Flora cluster
District(s): Putrajaya
Locality/Source: Construction site, Presinct 11
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Jan 24, targeted screening
Total infected: 13 out of 58 screened

Tembok Taiping cluster
District(s): Larut, Matang dan Selama, Perak
Locality/Source: Taiping prison
Cluster category: At risk group
First case: Jan 18, index case with symptoms
Total infected: 42 out of 77 screened

- Mkini