KUALA LUMPUR, August 10 — The Ministry of Health (MOH) today announced 11 new Covid-19 cases, including six local transmissions.
Three of the six local community cases were identified in Perak under the Kurau cluster through active case detection. So far, this cluster with five positive Covid-19 cases has involved two states: Perak and Penang.
Patient 9,050 was the first patient identified under the Kurau cluster on August 7. The patient’s sibling, an in-law, and a niece or nephew aged two tested positive for the coronavirus, as reported today.
The two-year-old child showed symptoms since July 30, while the other two newly detected cases were asymptomatic. Patient 9,050’s brother-in-law (the second case in the Kurau cluster) was reported yesterday.
It is to be noted that the first case in the Kurau cluster had close contact with all these new cases during visitation activities ahead of Hari Raya Aidiladha on July 30.
“The Sivagangga cluster and the Kurau cluster are two clusters that have been found to have an increase in Covid-19 cases in recent times, especially after the festive season,” said Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah in a statement.
The Sivagangga cluster refers to a cluster of 45 Covid-19 cases — comprising 31 in Kedah, 11 in Perlis, and three in Penang — sparked by a restaurant owner in Kedah who broke home quarantine rules. No new cases in this cluster were reported today.
“Most of the positive cases of these two clusters are made up of family members. Elderly people, as well as children from the age range of two to 70 years, were also affected in this cluster,” Dr Noor Hisham said, referring to the Sivagangga and Kurau clusters.
“Investigations that have been carried out through active case detection as well as screening of close contacts found that the transmission of Covid-19 infection in these two clusters was largely due to visitation activities during the festive season,” he added.
Dr Noor Hishamalso emphasised the importance of complying standard operating procedures (SOP) in social events and advised unhealthy or symptomatic individuals to refrain from visiting or participating in any feasts and celebrations.
To date, a total of 125 people have been screened in the Kurau cluster. Of these five cases were detected with Covid-19, whereas 112 tested negative. Eight people are still waiting for the test result.
The 11 new Covid-19 cases reported today consisted of six local transmissions and five imported cases.
Besides the three new Covid-19 cases from the Kurau cluster, two cases involving Malaysians were recorded in Johor and Melaka respectively. One of them was detected with the virus during a screening before surgery and another person tested positive in a screening before being admitted to a ward in a private health facility.
Another local transmission occurred in a foreign worker in Selangor; the person was identified in a screening at the workplace.
The five imported cases were returnees from Australia, Japan and Singapore.
That brings the total number of Covid-19 infections in the country to 9,094, with 166 active cases.
A total of 19 patients were discharged from hospitals, bringing the total number of recovered patients to 8,803.
The death toll in the country remains at 125 as no new casualties were recorded today.
