By Geryl Ogilvy
KUCHING, April 9: Malaysia recorded its youngest Covid-19 death to date, after a 23-year-old female Sarawakian succumbed to the disease.
The Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) student from Kota Samarahan was one of two reported new Covid-19 fatalities today, bringing the country’s total tally to 67.
Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said this translated to 1.58 per cent mortality from the 4,228 positive cases in the country as of today (April 9).
“The 23-year-old female patient, the 67th (fatality) case in the country, has a history of thyroid. The victim has a close contact history with Covid-19 patients case 2,469 and 2,470, from a fifth generation church gathering cluster in Sarawak.
“She was admitted to the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) on March 30 and passed away at 9.42am today,” he told a press conference to provide daily Covid-19 updates in Putrajaya today.
Despite the young age, Dr Noor Hisham said the patient succumbed during ventilation in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), as she was already at category 4 when she came in for treatment.
He added that 88 per cent of Covid-19 patients who came in for treatment were in category 1 and 2 stages.
Dr Noor Hisham said the 66th (fatality) case involved a 59-year-old Malaysian man with a history of autoimmune and other chronic diseases. The deceased has a history of attending the religious gathering at Sri Petaling Mosque in Kuala Lumpur.
“He was admitted to Melaka Hospital since March 31 and passed away at 5am, April 9,” he continued.
Dr Noor Hisham said as of 12pm today, 109 new cases were reported, taking the country’s tally of Covid-19 positive cases to 4,228.
A total of 121 patients have recovered and been discharged. This brings the total Covid-19 patients recovered to 1,608, which translates to 38 per cent of the total number of positive cases.
On a positive note, the number of discharged persons today was higher than new cases reported.
To date, 72 patients are being treated in ICUs, with 43 needing breathing support (ventilators).
Touching on Covid-19 testing, Dr Noor Hisham said the country has 43 labs across the country involving the public and private sectors, as well as higher learning institutes.
These labs have a combined capacity to carry out testing and detection of 11,500 cases daily.
“The Health Ministry urges Malaysians to comply with the movement control order (MCO).
“While at home, please practise high levels of hygiene such as washing hands with soap and water regularly, as well as practising social distancing of at least 1 metre from other people,” he advised. — DayakDaily
