COVID-19: Back to record low of one new case - Health DG

Only one new case of COVID-19 was reported in Malaysia today, matching the record low achieved on July 1, said Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

Dr Noor Hisham said this brings the total number of positive cases to 9,002, including 193 active cases with infectivity.

"Only one new case was reported today, a local transmission involving a Malaysian who was detected from Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) screening of a patient being treated at Hospital Tuanku Fauziah, Perlis.

"No imported cases which were infected oveseas were reported today. There are no positive cases being treated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and no deaths were reported today,” he said in a statement on COVID-19 updates.

Dr Noor Hisham said 16 cases had recovered and were discharged today, bringing the cumulative figure for recoveries to 8,684, or 96.5 per cent of the total number of cases.

He thanked all quarters for their cooperation in checking the spread of COVID-19 and reminded everyone to remain vigilant and abide by the standard operating procedure (SOP).

"This is definitely the result of efforts and cooperation of all levels of society and the agencies involved which played their respective roles.

"All strata of society should continue with efforts to reduce COVID-19 cases in our country by practising physical distancing of at least one metre, looking after personal hygiene especially by washing their hands, avoiding crowded and confined spaces and refraining from getting too near to each other when talking,” he added.

He said COVID-19 cases could surge again in Malaysia if the people became complacent and ignored the instructions of the government.

Dr Noor Hisham also denied a piece of viral news which said parents and students on holiday in Kubang Pasu district in Kedah were required to undergo COVID-19 screening at health clinics.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) never issued such a directive and instead only those with a history of close contact with positive cases or individuals with symptoms of fever or breathing difficulties should go for the tests, he said.

This covers residents in the areas under administrative Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO), within a one-kilometre radius of Restoran Nasi Kandar Salleh, Pekan Napoh (Mukim Hosba, Kubang Pasu); Kampung Pida Satu, Megat Dewa (Mukim Ah, Kubang Pasu); Kampung Bendang Dalam (Mukim Binjal, Kubang Pasu); and Kampung Ulu Padang Sanai (Padang Terap).

Apart from this, individuals with links to the restaurant concerned in the Sivagangga PUI Cluster, for example, customers or those with dealings with the index case or workers of the outlet from July 13 to 27 should immediately contact the nearest District Health Office for COVID-19 screening.

“MOH will continue to cooperate with the Education Ministry, State Health Department and State Education Department to tackle this issue to ensure that directives issued are in line and genuine,” he said.

-- BERNAMA