KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 21 — The Health ministry announced 2,018 new Covid-19 cases — the third-highest in a day since the pandemic hit Malaysia.
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham said Selangor topped the list once again recording 1,204 new cases with 1,115 cases coming from existing clusters.
“Selangor recorded the highest number of daily Covid-19 at 1,204, followed by Johor at 278 and Sabah at 247,” he said in a press briefing.
Dr Noor Hisham added that Malaysia recorded one fatality bringing the death toll to 438.
He said that the 50-year-old foreigner died in Tuaran hospital in Sabah.
Of Selangor’s total, 996 came from clusters. These include 263 from three new clusters announced today: Pekapuri in Gombak; Batu Besar in Klang; and Tower, where infections have been found in both Gombak and Sepang.
On the breakdown of Johor’s new Covid-19 cases, Dr Noor Hisham said 278 came from existing clusters, 16 from close contact screenings, one imported case and the remaining 15 from other Covid-19 screenings.
Sabah also recorded a high number of daily new cases at 247, with 21 cases from existing clusters, 157 from close contact screenings, two imported cases and the remaining 69 from Covid-19 screenings done.
Kuala Lumpur recorded 127 cases today with 63 coming from existing clusters including 23 from newly detected clusters namely Tapak Bina Pelangi cluster, Wawasan cluster, Delima cluster and Tower cluster, 33 from close contact screenings, four imported cases, and the remaining 27 from other Covid-19 screenings.
The remaining states that recorded new cases are Negri Sembilan (58), Labuan (29), Perak (21), Penang (18), Pahang (12), Melaka (nine), Kelantan (six), Putrajaya (five), Kedah (three) and Terengganu with one case.
Dr Noor Hisham also announced 1,084 recoveries, bringing the total number of those discharged to 78,393.
He also said that 109 Covid-19 patients are under intensive care with 55 needing breathing assistance.
