KUALA LUMPUR, April 17 – The Ministry of Health (MOH) has recorded 69 new Covid-19 cases as of 12pm today, the lowest recorded in more than a month.
“This brings the total number of Covid-19 positive cases in Malaysia to 5,251. Therefore, the total number of active cases with Covid-19 infection is 2,198 cases,” said Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah in a statement.
The number of active infectious cases is derived from deducting recoveries and fatalities from total infections.
“The Ministry of Health (MOH) would like to announce that 201 cases have recovered and were allowed to be released today.”
“This resulted in a cumulative total of Covid-19 fully recovered cases at 2,967 cases (56.5 per cent of total cases). As a result, the number of cases charged today is almost three times the number of new cases reported,” he added.
Fifty-two cases are currently treated in Intensive Care Unit (ICU), out of which 26 are in ventilator support.
On a sombre note, two more deaths were reported as at 12 pm today, bringing the total number of deaths at 86.
“The 85th death (Patient 5,064) was an 85-year-old Malaysian citizen. He had a close contact history with a positive Covid-19 case, Patient 4,657 case from the Bali patients-under-investigation [PUI] cluster.
“The 86th death (Patient 5,183) was an 85-year-old Malaysian citizen with a history of hypertension and stroke. He had a close contact history with a positive Covid-19 case, Patient 2,321.”
As at 12pm on April 16, a total of 601 coronavirus cases were detected among foreigners in Malaysia, including tourists, foreign workers, refugees and asylum seekers. Of that total, 356 are being treated, 242 have recovered, and three have died.
“Of these, the main countries are: 108 cases of Indonesian citizens, 104 cases of Filipino nationals, 63 cases of Bangladeshis, 60 cases of Indian citizens, and 51 cases of Pakistani nationals,” Dr Noor Hisham said.
Apart from ensuring employees adhere to guidelines to make sure clean hygiene and social distancing are followed, MOH is also working with various parties to address the spreading of the disease among foreigners.
“The MOH is also working with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to ensure that asylum seekers are also covered in preventive and control activities undertaken by the government.
“MOH is working closely with the embassies of relevant countries in Malaysia as well as relevant NGOs (non-governmental organisations) to assist MOH in its efforts to disseminate information to foreigners in Malaysia in their native languages.
“National IHR Focal Points (NFPs) from related countries will also be notified of positive Covid-19 positive cases among foreigners in Malaysia,” Dr Noor Hisham added.
