MoH staff, 32, one of two new Covid-19 fatalities reported in Malaysia

Dr Noor Hisham addressing the media during a press conference. Screenshot taken from a Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) broadcast.

KUCHING, April 23: Malaysia registered 71 new Covid-19 cases and two more fatalities today.

With the increase in new patients, health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah noted the cumulative number of cases in Malaysia has increased to 5,603.

He also disclosed there are 1,966 active cases and patients are being isolated and treated at hospitals throughout the country.

“From the 71 new cases, 19 were imported cases and 52 cases involved local transmission.

“There are also 42 cases which are being treated at the Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and out of that number, 21 cases required the aid of ventilators.

“There were also two cases of fatalities linked to Covid-19,” he told the media during a press conference at the Ministry of Health headquarters in Putrajaya today.

Dr Noor Hisham added one of the casualties involved a 32-year-old female healthcare worker from MoH.

He noted the victim had hypertension and close contact with a Covid-19 patient in Muar, Johor.

Dr Noor Hisham noted the victim was treated at Kluang Hospital on April 6 and was pronounced dead on April 23 at 12.36am.

He revealed that this was the third fatality which involved healthcare workers from MoH.

Meanwhile, the second death involved a 67-year-old man who had chronic diseases.

The victim had close contact with a Covid-19 patient who is linked to a Bali patient under investigation (PUI) cluster in Kuantan, Pahang.

Meanwhile, Dr Noor Hisham disclosed that until today, there were 325 healthcare workers from MoH who have tested positive for Covid-19.

From that figure, 185 cases have fully recovered while 137 cases are still being treated at hospitals, and three patients have died.

As for the biggest Covid-19 cluster from Sri Petaling tabligh gathering, Dr Noor Hisham said MoH has screened 29,826 people with 28,587 samples taken.

From that total, 2,013 tested positive while the results of 25,332 people were negative and 1,990 people are awaiting laboratory results.

Dr Noor Hisham disclosed that there were no new cases from the clusters in Sarawak.

He added there were 90 cases of Covid-19 patients who have recovered and were discharged today. — DayakDaily