KUALA LUMPUR, March 23 — Health authorities today reported the 11th fatality of the Covid-19 outbreak in Malaysia, a 70-year-old man with a history of heart disease and high blood pressure.
Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the victim previously travelled to Indonesia last month and was also the chairman of a neighbourhood surau.
Patient 1,070 showed symptoms a week before he was hospitalised at Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz (HCTM) UKM in Selangor on March 18, tested positive for coronavirus on March 19, and was given breathing assistance in the intensive care unit (ICU). His condition deteriorated until he died yesterday at 9.05pm.
“MOH gives condolences to the patient’s family,” Dr Noor Hisham said.
Covid-19 cases in Malaysia have soared to 1,306, with 123 new infections reported yesterday. About 63 per cent of the total cases, or 820 patients, were participants in the recent tabligh event at the Sri Petaling mosque here.
Out of the 11 victims in Malaysia, only four were above the age of 65. Older adults and those with serious underlying medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and lung disease are believed to suffer higher risk of serious complications from Covid-19.
Nine of the 11 Malaysian fatalities are men. At least three victims — men aged 34, 48, and 58 — did not have previous health problems.
