COVID-19: Nine new infections, active cases now 213

Nine new positive COVID-19 cases were reported in Malaysia today, with seven being imported cases, said Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

He said this brings the total number of cases to 8,985, of which 213 are active cases with infectivity.

The imported cases involved five Malaysians and two non-citizens, while the two local transmissions involved one local and one foreigner, he added.

“The Malaysian in the local transmission case is from the Sivagangga PUI Cluster in Kedah.

“The case involving the foreigner is in Selangor and the case is from the Bukit Tiram Cluster,” he said in a statement.

Dr Noor Hisham said three cases had recovered and were discharged today, bringing the cumulative figure for recoveries to 8,647, or 96.2 per cent of the total number of cases.

He said only two positive cases were still being treated in the Intensive Care Unit, with one requiring ventilator support.

No deaths were reported today, keeping the death toll at 125, or 1.39 per cent of the total number of cases.

On the new case involving the Bukit Tiram Cluster today, Dr Noor Hisham said it was the first case from the cluster to have been detected outside of Johor.

“The positive case reported today (case no 8,977) is a close contact of positive case number 8,893 (Bukit Tiram Cluster) from Johor.

“Investigation and active case detection showed that case number 8,893 had stayed at the house of case 8,977 from July 16 to 19 in Selangor,” he said.

He said that after case 8,977 was identified, the individual was ordered to undergo home surveillance.

A repeat COVID-19 test was conducted when case 8,977 came down with cough and sore throat, he added. The patient was confirmed positive and admitted to Hospital Sungai Buloh.

So far, 135 people have been screened for the Bukit Tiram Cluster and of this number, 10 cases including four foreigners were found positive, 124 were negative and one is still awaiting test results.