[UPDATED] 2,340 new Covid-19 cases today, E. M’sia bears bulk of deaths

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia today logged a total of 2,340 fresh Covid-19 infections and 11 deaths, Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said.

Most of the fatalities today occurred in the Borneo states, presaging the enormous threat sweeping over the region where the virus is now spreading with speed in remote towns and hinterland settlements.

Sabah registered six deaths and Sarawak recorded four, while Kuala Lumpur logged one fatality. Nine of the victims were locals, while two were non-citizens.

Dr Noor Hisham said this brings the nation’s cumulative Covid-19 caseload to 381,813 cases, while the death toll since the pandemic began is now at 1,400.

The country also recorded 1,910 recoveries, pushing the overall number of those discharged after contracting the virus to 358,726.

In a statement, Dr Noor Hisham said 12 of the cases today are imported, of which one victim is a Malaysian citizen and the others are non-citizens.

Of the 21,687 active cases, 248 are under intensive care while 101 require breathing assistance.

Dr Noor Hisham said 40 cases reported are related to detention centres consisting of the Pagar Siput Dua cluster (36), DTI Lenggeng cluster (3), and Tembok Pengkalan Chepa cluster (1).

The country has seen a total of 1,552 clusters, including 11 new clusters today.

A total of 1,209 clusters have ended, including eight clusters today. They are the Sungai Berumbung, Jalan Asuhan, Jalan Wawasan Sembilan, Jalan Tun Mutalib Tiga, Tapak Bina Lembah Selatan, Solar Ria, Persiaran Setia construction site and Kayu Gading clusters.

Of the 343 active clusters, 67 reported new infections. The clusters with the most new cases are the Kok Lanas cluster (78), Jalan Khidmat cluster (72) and Sungai Lemayong cluster (65).

Dr Noor Hisham said four of the new clusters today are related to education centres, three from the community, two from workplaces, one from a detention centre, and another related to a religious event.

Johor recorded the Jalan Anggerik 21 cluster in Johor Bahru with 13 cases, followed by the Pagar Siput Dua cluster in Kota tinggi with 36 cases, while Melaka saw the Pengkalan Batik cluster in Alor Gajah with 37 cases.

Kedah logged the Anggerik Cempaka cluster in Baling with six cases, and Selangor detected the Jalan Langat Ceria cluster in Hulu Langat, Petaling, Klang, Kuala Langat, Gombak, and Sepang with six cases. Putrajaya saw the Putra Tiga cluster, which extended to Petaling and Sepang in Selangor and Seremban in Negri Sembilan, with eight cases.

Sarawak recorded the Duranda Emas cluster in Serian with 19 cases, the Taman Mesra Bako cluster in Kuching and Samarahan with 50 cases, and the Sungai Lemayong cluster in Meradong with 69 cases.

Finally, Penang recorded the Jalan Perai Jaya cluster in Seberang Perai with 11 cases, followed by the Pintasan Kampung Jawa cluster in Seberang Perai with 30 cases. – The Vibes, April 21, 2021