[UPDATED] Covid-19 cases rise to 5,738, 909 in intensive care, 60 deaths

KUALA LUMPUR – The number of Covid-19 cases rose slightly today to 5,738 cases, taking the cumulative tally of infections in the country to 678,764 since the outbreak began. 

Selangor remains the state with the highest number of cases at 1,858, followed by Negri Sembilan (1,086), Kuala Lumpur (641), Sarawak (559), Johor (449) and Sabah (248).

The states that logged fewer than 200 cases are Kedah with 197 infections, followed by Melaka (184), Kelantan (154), Penang (97), Labuan (97), Terengganu (77), Pahang (54), Perak (30) and Putrajaya (7).

Perlis saw no new cases in the past 24 hours.

There were 60 fatalities today, bringing the total death toll to 4,202.

Another 909 patients are in intensive care, slightly fewer than yesterday’s 924. Of the new patients, 441 require respiratory assistance.

A further 7,530 recoveries were registered today, bringing the total to 608,465.

Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said 20 of the new deaths were in Selangor, Negri Sembilan (10), Johor (9), Sabah and Labuan (4 each), Kuala Lumpur (3), Sarawak, Melaka and Kedah (2 each), and Kelantan, Perak, Terengganu and Penang (1 each).

The country has seen a total of 2,557 Covid-19 clusters, including 25 new ones today. Of the overall clusters, 795 are active.

Dr Noor Hisham said 20 of the fresh clusters are related to the workplace, community (4) and education centre (1).

Selangor recorded the Industri Jalan Balakong Impian cluster in Hulu Langat with nine cases, Industri Jalan Utarid U5 cluster in Petaling, Gombak, Kuala Selangor and Klang (73), Industri Solok Waja Dua cluster in Klang (32), Industri Batu Empat Sg Pelek cluster in Sepang (21), Industri Km 15 cluster in Kuala Langat and Klang (35), and Industri Jalan KB 15 cluster in Petaling and Hulu Langat (24). All are workplace clusters.

Johor logged the Jalan Ho Koon Suan cluster in Muar with 11 infections, Jalan Masyhur Empat cluster in Johor Baru (20), Jalan Seri Alam cluster in Johor Baru (9), Jalan Teluk Sengat cluster in Kota Tinggi (12), Jalan Perindustrian Enam cluster in Tangkak (53), and Jalan Pamol cluster in Kluang (14). These, too, are all workplace clusters.

Kedah’s new clusters are related to the workplace as well, with the Dah Industri Desa cluster in Kuala Muda seeing 13 cases, Dah Industri Hitam cluster in Kubang Pasu (11), Dah Industri Bakar cluster in Kuala Muda, Baling, Sik and Yan (33), and Dah Segar Indah cluster in Langkawi (20).

Penang saw the Lorong Industri Tujuh workplace cluster with 21 cases and Jalan Gelugor construction site cluster (32). Both are in Seberang Prai.

Negri Sembilan logged the Pondok Batu Lapan workplace cluster in Seremban with 58 cases and Bari community cluster in Kuala Pilah (47).

Sarawak saw the Sawai Niah workplace cluster in Subis and Miri with 32 infections and Jalan Kidurong Empat community cluster in Bintulu (18), while Terengganu recorded the Tg Ketom community cluster in Kuala Terengganu and Marang (43).

Melaka logged the Bukit Godek community cluster in central Melaka with 30 cases, while Kuala Lumpur saw the Taman Midah education cluster in Cheras (12).

Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun in a statement said targeted screening conducted by employers in the industrial sector in Seremban district is the main contributor to the state’s four-digit caseload today.

The high tally is also the result of close-contact screening carried out by district health officers.

Of the state’s 1,086 new infections, 41% were detected among close contacts, existing clusters (36%) and sporadic cases (23%), reported Bernama.

“For cases in existing clusters, 78% involved workers in the industrial sector, special care centres (13%) and the community (9%),” said Aminuddin.

“The sporadic cases involved employment or symptomatic screening among workers in the industrial sector.” – The Vibes, June 17, 2021