KUALA LUMPUR, April 20 – Malaysia reported today its lowest number of new Covid-19 cases at 36 since March 12, bringing the total number of infections to 5,425 cases.
“Therefore, the total number of active cases with Covid-19 infection was 2,041 cases,” said Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah in a statement.
“To date, 45 cases of Covid-19 are being treated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Of these, 28 cases require ventilator support.”
The country also reported no deaths today, the first time Malaysia has recorded no deaths in its daily update since noon on March 20. Therefore, the death toll related to the virus stays at 89.
“The Ministry of Health (MOH) would like to announce that there are 98 cases that have been recovered and allowed to be released today. This makes the cumulative number of cases fully recovered from the Covid-19 and charged from the ward at 3,295 cases (60.74 percent of total cases),” he added.
Despite positive developments today, Dr Noor Hisham warned that there might be an increase in the number of cases in the next two weeks.
“The decrease in the number of daily cases seen in recent days has been the result of proactive and aggressive actions in detecting cases carried out particularly during the last two weeks.
“However, the number of new cases may increase again in the next two weeks as case detection activities are still being carried out, especially for Malaysians who have just returned from overseas and in localities under the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO).”
The Health DG also gave updates on the six EMCO in Simpang Renggam, Kluang; Hulu Langat, Selangor; Menara City One on Jalan Munshi Abdullah in Kuala Lumpur; Malayan Mansion and Selangor Mansion flats at Masjid India in Kuala Lumpur; Masjid India and surrounding areas; and Pusat Bandar Utara and areas surrounding the Kuala Lumpur wholesale market in Selayang.
“The Enhanced Movement Control Order has been implemented in several high-risk locations since March 27, 2020. This measure will assist MOH in implementing targeted approaches to curb the spread of Covid-19 infections such as population census, house-to-house active case detection (ACD), sampling, disinfection and health promotion,” he said.
“As of April 20, 2020, the Government has issued six EMCO directives in stages involving ten localities: Bandar Baru Ibrahim Majid; the area around Bandar Baru Ibrahim Majid; Kampung Sungai Lui; areas around Kampung Sungai Lui; Plaza City One Tower; Malayan Mansion; Selangor Mansion; Masjid India and its surrounding area; the latest, in Pusat Bandar Utara, Kuala Lumpur; and areas around Pasar Borong Kuala Lumpur.”
The EMCO saw the collection of a total of 13,277 Covid-19 test samples, of which 796 cases were Covid-19 positive.
“There were five cases of Covid-19 deaths from this area, namely Patient Number 1,114, 2,627, 1,649 and 1,251 from Ibrahim Majid New Town and the surrounding area, as well as Patient Number 1,906 from the Tower Plaza City One.”
According to the Health DG, 28 people tested positive for Covid-19 as of today in the Selayang wholesale market area, including one death of a 36-year-old Myanmar man, out of 2,064 tests.
He urged migrant workers whose working passes have expired to still come forward to do Covid-19 screening.
“We want to make sure they’re not infected or infect other people. So definitely, we must test them.”
When asked about personal protective equipment (PPE) stock, he said those who need N95 masks are only MOH frontliners working in ICU and Covid-19 wards, while health care workers outside those areas can use 3-ply masks. Those working in clinics can also use face shields.
“So we don’t have a problem with 3-ply masks, but we have to save N95 masks for those who need N95 in ICU and Covid wards,” Dr Noor Hisham said.
“The problem is in usage. We have to look and distribute N95 masks to centres in Kuching, and to Sabah and Sarawak.”
