KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 27 — New Covid-19 cases in the country crossed the 5,000-mark today, as Malaysia logged 5,439 new infections.

This is the first time since December 10, 2021 — when the country recorded 5,508 cases — that the daily Covid-19 cases have been over the 5,000-mark.

Health director general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said today’s numbers bring the total number of cases to 2,850,048.

Yesterday, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said that the Omicron wave has begun in Malaysia and the number of Covid-19 cases in the country is expected to rise.

He said the situation, however, will be under control as the country has a high vaccination rate.

Dr Noor Hisham said that of today’s cases, 332 were imported, involving 204 Malaysians and 128 foreigners.

The remaining 5,107 cases were all locally transmitted.

"There are currently 124 patients being treated in intensive care units (ICU) nationwide, with 101 confirmed Covid-19 positive and 23 more either suspected, probable or under investigation for Covid-19.

"Of that number, 70 require ventilators to help them breathe, involving 47 Covid-19 positive patients and 23 who are either suspected, probable or under investigation for Covid-19,” he said.

Dr Noor Hisham said 22 new Covid-19 clusters were also detected in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of active clusters to 274.

The national infectivity rate currently stands at 1.13, with Negri Sembilan holding top spot for state with the highest infectivity rate, at 1.18.

This is followed by Kedah (1.14), Johor (1.12), and Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, at 1.07 each.

He also reported 4,409 more recoveries, bringing the total to 2,770,663 or 97.2 per cent of all cases.