COVID-19: New high of 317 cases, three new clusters - Health DG

PUTRAJAYA: A total of 317 positive COVID-19 cases were reported in Malaysia today, breaking the record high of 287 cases yesterday, said Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

He said all the 317 cases, reported over a 24-hour period as at noon today, were local transmissions.

He said one COVID-19 death was also reported, in Tawau, Sabah, while three new clusters were detected -- Bah Lunas Cluster and Bah Rose Cluster in Kedah, and Jelok Cluster in Selangor.

The new cases, which involve 303 Malaysians and 14 foreigners, bring the cumulative total of positive cases to 12,088.

“Of the 317 infections, 37 cases were travellers who returned from Sabah. This brings the number of cases with a travel history to Sabah since Sept 20 to 176," he said at a press conference on COVID-19 updates here.

The COVID-19 death toll in Malaysia now stands at 137.

The 137th death (case no. 10,939) was a 57-year-old Malaysian man with a history of diabetes, high blood pressure and dyslipidemia, he added.

"He started having symptoms of cough, lack of appetite and fever on Sept 10. On Sept 24, he suffered breathing difficulty and was taken to the Emergency Department of Hospital Semporna before being referred to Hospital Tawau on the same day.

"The patient was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and put on ventilator support. COVID-19 tests turned out positive on Sept 28. His condition deteriorated and he was confirmed to have died at 11.44 pm on Oct 2," Dr Noor Hisham added.

He said 29 positive cases are still being treated at the ICU, with four requiring respiratory aid.

Giving a breakdown of today’s cases, he said Sabah had the most with 155, comprising 100 symptomatic screening cases involving 96 Malaysians and four foreigners; five cases from the Bangau-Bangau Cluster; 10 cases from the Benteng LD Cluster; four community screening cases; three cases from the Laut Cluster; two cases from the Joo Hwa Cluster; and one case from the Buang Sayang Cluster.

Kedah recorded the second highest at 102 cases, comprising 97 cases from the Tembok Cluster; two cases from screening of returnees from high-risk areas (Sabah); two cases from the new cluster of Bah Lunas; and one case from the Bah Ketil Cluster.

Dr Noor Hisham said Selangor recorded 32 new cases, comprising 15 cases of screening of returnees from high-risk areas (Sabah); 12 cases from the Jalan Meru Cluster; three cases from the new cluster of Jelok; and two cases of screening of close contacts of positive cases 11,147 and 11,047.

Terengganu had nine new cases; Johor, four; Sarawak, three; Negeri Sembilan, one; and Kelantan and the Federal Territory of Putrajaya, two each.

"The Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur had four cases, comprising two from screening of returnees from high-risk areas (Sabah); one case from the Jalan Meru Cluster; and one case from the new cluster of Jelok," he added.

Penang recorded three new cases, comprising two cases of screening of returnees from high-risk areas (Sabah), and one case from the new cluster of Bah Rose.

-- BERNAMA