[UPDATED] 5,566 new Covid-19 cases, record-high 903 patients in ICU

KUALA LUMPUR – The number of daily Covid-19 cases in Malaysia remains under the 6,000-mark, but saw a slight rise to 5,566 today.

Out of the fresh infections, only four are imported.

The nation also recorded 76 deaths today, bringing the toll to 3,536.

A total of 6,962 Covid-19 patients recovered, while 903 are in intensive care units (ICUs) and 458 on breathing support.

Selangor recorded the highest number of cases at 1,524, followed by Sarawak (707), Negri Sembilan (505), Kuala Lumpur (466), Johor (456), Sabah (350), Melaka (314), Perak (225), Kelantan (204) and Labuan (191).

Penang logged 185 fresh infections, followed by Pahang (157), Kedah (148), Terengganu (106), Putrajaya (27) and Perlis (1).

Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the 76 deaths comprised 18 in Selangor, 13 in Johor, nine in Negri Sembilan, eight in Kuala Lumpur, and seven in Labuan.

Kedah, Melaka and Kelantan recorded four deaths each, while Terengganu has three; Perak and Pahang have two each; and, Sabah and Sarawak have one each.

The country has a total of 2,385 clusters, including 24 new ones today. A total of 1,655 clusters have ended, while 730 remain active.

Dr Noor Hisham said cases have seen a drop of 2.6%, or 1,379, during the latest 22nd epidemiology (ME-22) week from May 30 until June 5, compared with ME-21 between May 23 and 29.

Although fresh infections have reduced, active cases remain high due to a hike in infections between ME-20 and ME-21, he added.

During the early half of ME-21, there were 57,022 active cases, but the number increased by 20,995 to 78,017 the following week.

As of today, there are 82,797 active cases under treatment and observation.

Dr Noor Hisham said up until June 6, the use of non-ICU beds showed a slight decline over the previous two-week period from 99% to 89% capacity, while quarantine bed capacity stand at 54%.

However, the use of ICU beds showed an increase, with 96% on May 24 and 104% on June 6.

“The (usage) rate of ICU beds above 100% is very worrying, whereby not all patients in need of critical treatment can be placed in ICUs,” he said.

Dr Noor Hisham said of the new clusters today, 15 are related to workplaces, five from the community, three involved high-risk groups, and one invovled a religious gathering.

Selangor recorded the Jalan Satu Olak Dua cluster in Kuala Langat with six cases; Jalan Equine cluster in Petaling (29); Jalan Enam C cluster in Hulu Langat, Klang, Petaling and Sepang (21); and, Bukit Rahman Lapan cluster in Gombak (19). All are workplace clusters.

Sabah’s Coral workplace cluster in Kota Kinabalu recorded nine cases, while its Ocean Blue workplace cluster has 99, and Segara workplace cluster has 11.

Its Kg Bundi community cluster in Kuala Penyu recorded 39 cases, and Tg Aru Baru community cluster in Kota Kinabalu has 30.

Johor recorded the Industry Tg Agas workplace cluster in Tangkak with eight cases; Jalan Kesang workplace cluster in Kulim and Kuala Muda (19); Teluk Kabung high-risk group cluster in Johor Baru (47); and, Jalan Logah Segamat religious activity cluster in Segamat (14).

Kedah’s Dah Mahang Merah workplace cluster in Kulim and Kuala Muda recorded 19 cases, while Kuala Lumpur registered the Muda 2 construction site cluster in Titiwangsa with 33 cases, and Jalan Cempedak 2 high-risk group cluster in Kepong with 17.

Putrajaya recorded the Jalan Alamanda Presint 1 workplace cluster with 11 cases, while Penang’s Jalan Seruling workplace cluster in Seberang Prai has 23 cases, and Kelantan’s Kota Jelasin workplace cluster in Kota Baru and Tumpat has 10.

Sarawak recorded the Ulu Teru community cluster in Miri and Beluru with 46 cases, and Ulu Sebakong community cluster in Mukah with 61.

Pahang’s Jalan Sri Jaafar workplace cluster in Bentong recorded 32 cases, while Perak’s Rantau Kenanga community cluster in Hilir Perak has 39 cases.

Finally, Negri Sembilan recorded the Jalan Melang high-risk group cluster in Kuala Pilah with 29 cases. – The Vibes, June 8, 2021