KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 28 — Malaysia recorded 1,594 new Covid-19 infections today, three of which contracted the virus while abroad.

With this Malaysia now has a cumulative total of 106,690 cases.

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah also announced the recovery of 1,181 patients and the deaths of three people today, bringing the total number of Covid-19 fatalities in the country to 455.

Dr Noor Hisham said that 116 patients are currently under intensive care and that 53 require ventilators.

Selangor reported the highest new daily cases of 697 cases (43.7 per cent). Of these, a total of 593 cases (85.1 per cent) were from clusters and Covid-19 close contact screenings.

Next is Kuala Lumpur with 194 cases (12.2 per cent), followed by Johor with 191 cases (12.0 per cent).

Dr Noor Hisham said 108 cases (6.8 per cent) of Covid-19 cases are linked to prison clusters, immigration detention centres and prisons.

This involves the Jalan Harapan Prison Cluster (42 cases), Bakti Cluster (34 cases), Pagar Siput Cluster (six cases), Tembok Cluster (six cases), Seberang Perai Prison Cluster (five cases), Bentong Pagar Cluster (five cases), Tembok Gajah Cluster (four cases), Sandakan Prison Cluster (three cases) and Kolam Air Cluster (three cases).