KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia today recorded 1,220 fresh Covid-19 cases, and three new deaths, according to the Health Ministry.
This brings the cumulative cases to 89,133 and the death toll to 432.
The number of recoveries recorded today were 1,297, making the total of those discharged to 74,030 (83.1%) since the pandemic began.
The ministry said there were currently 16,671 active cases, with 106 under intensive care and 53 requiring ventilators.
Of the 1,220 new cases today, six were imported and the remaining 1,214 were local infections.
Selangor registered the highest increase of transmissions today with 368 cases.
Of Selangor’s total, 247 cases (67.1%) were detected from existing clusters and close contacts.
Kuala Lumpur recorded the second highest rise in cases with 297 (24.3%) and Sabah with 184 cases (15.1%).
According to the minister, some 135 cases (11.1%) reported were from prison clusters involving the Jalan Harapan Prison (98 cases), Tembok (36), and Seberang Prai Prison (one) clusters.
The ministry, on its website, said three new clusters were identified today – the Jalan Rusa cluster in Cheras with 129 cases, the Pasifik construction site cluster (17) in Lembah Pantai, and the Maringkan cluster (11) in Telupid and Ranau, Sabah.
In a separate statement, Health deputy director-general Datuk Dr Rohaizat Yon said the ministry has taken steps to handle the third wave of the pandemic that began in September.
He said 120 of the 146 hospitals under the ministry nationwide have the capacity to conduct Covid-19 screenings, with 48 designated to treat Covid-19 patients and others.
Additionally, University Malaya Medical Centre is involved in treating Covid-19 patients while UKM’s Hospital Canselor Tunku Mukhriz is prepared to take in Covid-19 patients when needed.
Dr Rohaizat said 50 hospitals around the country are able to treat Covid-19 patients with a total capacity of 6,007 beds.
He said the ministry has set up quarantine and treatment centres for low-risk cases around the country.
He added that there are 86 centres in operation with a capacity of 17,800 beds.
Dr Rohaizat said there are 63 laboratories around the country carrying out Covid-19 tests with a capacity of 59,555 tests per day, compared with 29,789 in 45 laboratories in June. – The Vibes, December 17, 2020
