KUALA LUMPUR, March 17 — Malaysia today reported the death of a 34-year-old man from Covid-19 in Johor, who did not have other health problems, the second coronavirus fatality in the country.
Health Minister Dr Adham Baba said the 34-year-old, Patient 178, had attended the recent tabligh gathering at the Sri Petaling mosque in Kuala Lumpur.
The man started experiencing fever on March 5 and received treatment at Hospital Permai, Johor. He subsequently got admitted to the intensive care unit at Sultanah Aminah Hospital and died today.
“He did not have any comorbidities,” Dr Adham told a press conference. “He was purely Covid-19.”
The other coronavirus fatality — Patient 358, a 60-year-old man in Sarawak — had a history of diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia (unhealthy levels of one or more kinds of fat in the blood), said the health minister.
He suffered from fever, cough, and breathing difficulties on March 7 and received treatment at Sarawak General Hospital on March 14, before his condition deteriorated and he succumbed to coronavirus today.
Health authorities reported 120 new Covid-19 cases as of noon today, continuing a surge since the past three days, where 190 new infections were reported on Sunday and 125 yesterday.
The total novel coronavirus cases in Malaysia has now reached 673, 428 of which came from the tabligh cluster.
According to Dr Adham, 12 coronavirus patients are currently in intensive care and require breathing assistance.
