[UPDATED] Covid-19: 1,884 new cases, 883 recoveries, 2 new deaths

PUTRAJAYA – Malaysia today recorded another high number of daily Covid-19 cases at 1,884, with Selangor recording 1,203 infections, said the Health Ministry today.

There have been another two deaths, four new infection clusters, and 883 recoveries, Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said in his daily briefing.

The new cases bring the total cumulative number to 59,659, with 13,842 cases still active.

Selangor has recorded the highest number of cases at 1,203 or 63.3% of today’s new cases followed by Sabah (289 cases) and Kuala Lumpur (166).

Dr Noor Hisham said most cases in the Klang Valley are work-related cases, such as the Teratai cluster – involving Top Glove worker dormitories which saw 1,067 cases – while the Damanlela construction site cluster has 107 cases.

He said Top Glove’s latest cases involved workers at factories in Kapar, Klang. 

In total, the ministry has recorded 2,524 cases related to Top Glove workers, who made up for most of the Teratai cluster.

A total of 2,453 infected cases (97.2%) of the cases were made up of the factory workers while 71 cases (2.8%) were among close contacts.

Dr Noor Hisham said 2,360 cases in the cluster involved non-citizens while 164 were Malaysians.

“The ministry is conducting active tracing of close contacts, which is why the Temco (targeted enhanced movement control order) is being imposed and involves 13,000 workers in the affected factories," he said.

Meanwhile, there have been another 883 recoveries.

Negri Sembilan recorded 41 cases, while Kedah has 36, and Penang with 12.

Another 81 cases were recorded in Perak, while Johor saw 15 cases, and Kelantan 19. Both Putrajaya and Perlis recorded one case each.

Sarawak, Pahang, Melaka, Terengganu and Labuan saw no new cases.

Dr Noor Hisham said 115 cases were under intensive care while 48 cases required ventilators.

On the preparation of standard operating procedures to be undertaken in disaster relief centres during the flooding seasons, Dr Noor Hisham said plans were already in order, including recommendations to ensure a 2m space between cubicles, compulsory wearing of masks, and ensuring overall cleanliness.

“This is not only done to prevent the spread of Covid-19 but also other infectious diseases,” he said. – The Vibes, November 23, 2020