KUALA LUMPUR, 27 Sept 2020:
A total of 150 new Covid-19 cases were recorded in the past 24 hours, with three new clusters detected and one death reported, said Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.
This takes the cumulative total number of cases in the country to 10,919 and the death toll to 134.
Of the 150 new cases, 146 were local transmissions involving 124 Malaysians and 22 foreigners while the other four were imported.
Sabah recorded the most number of local transmission cases with 124, followed by Selangor (10 cases), Pahang (four), Kuala Lumpur (three), Johor (two), Sarawak (two) and Melaka (one).
“Among the cases in Sabah were 58 from the Benteng Lahad Datu Cluster (55 Malaysians, three foreigners); 20 from the Bangau-Bangau Cluster (12 Malaysians, eight foreigners); 13 from the Bakau Cluster (four Malaysians, nine foreigners); and 10 from the Pulau Cluster (nine Malaysians, one foreigner),” he said in a statement today.
There were also eight cases in Selangor, three in Pahang, two in Johor and one each in Kuala Lumpur and Melaka involving the screening of individuals returning from high-risk areas (Sabah).
Dr Noor Hisham said there are currently 950 active Covid-19 cases nationwide.
On the four imported cases, he said three of them were individuals returning from Saudi Arabia (two cases in KL and one in Selangor) and one returning from India (reported in Kuala Lumpur involving a Malaysian).
“The 134th fatality (which is case number 10,491) involved an 81-year-old Malaysian woman who had fever and cough on Sept 14 and was taken to the Semporna Hospital on Sept 17.
“A Covid-19 screening on Sept 22 was found to be positive. On Sept 26, she was moved to the Tawau Hospital in Sabah. Her condition deteriorated and she was transferred to the intensive care unit on the same day. She was confirmed dead at 12.52am today (Sept 27).”
Meanwhile, he said there were 50 recoveries today, while six cases are being treated in the intensive care unit with four requiring ventilator support.
Of the three new clusters, two are in Sabah – namely Buang Sayang Cluster and Kg Sakong Cluster – while one discovered in Kuala Lumpur, known as Setapak Cluster.
Dr Noor Hisham said the Buang Sayang Cluster was detected in Sipitang, Sabah, with the index case (case 10,265) who had a travel history to Sipitang from Sept 7 to 20.
“The case began to experience symptoms of fever, flu and sore throat on Sept 19 and was later admitted to a medical centre. Covid-19 screening was positive on Sept 20 and the case was transferred to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Sabah.
“Following that, active case detection and close contact screening were carried out where a total of 10 individuals were screened, and as at today four cases tested positive, while six individuals are still waiting for results.”
Meanwhile, the Kg Sakong Cluster was detected in Semporna, Sabah, with the index case (case 10,154) testing positive on Sept 18 through community screening. The case is asymptomatic and was admitted to Tawau Hospital for treatment.
Active case detection and close contact screening of this cluster were also carried out with a total of 66 individuals screened, where nine cases confirmed positive, while another 57 are awaiting results.
On the Setapak Cluster, Dr Noor Hisham said the index case (case 10,689) had a travel history to Tawau and Semporna, Sabah, from Sept 17 to 20.
The case began to experience symptoms of fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches and diarrhoea since Sept 21 and was admitted to a medical centre on Sept 25 where the case tested positive on the same day, then transferred to Sungai Buloh Hospital, Selangor, he said.
“The other two positive cases detected were the index case’s housemate (case 10,770) and a friend (case 10,771). They have been admitted to Sungai Buloh Hospital.”
He added that active case detection and close contact screening of this cluster were carried out and a total of 20 individuals were screened to date with three cases tested positive and 16 negative, while another case is still awaiting results.
– Bernama