PUTRAJAYA: A total of 927 cases which were classified as patients under investigation (PUIs) for Covid-19 were found to have epidemiological links to the Seri Petaling tabligh gathering.
Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said this brings the number of cases linked to the cluster to 3,347, compared to 2,375 previously.
He said this was confirmed after further investigations were conducted by the state and district health departments and offices, as well as the Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC).
"This means the Seri Petaling cluster and sub-clusters contribute 48 per cent to the total number of Covid-19 cases in Malaysia.
"This cluster has recorded 33 deaths and involves five generations," he told a daily press briefing at the ministry on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, he said the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) has written to more than 1,000 private tahfiz schools nationwide to urge them to undergo health screenings and Covid-19 tests.
Dr Noor Hisham said he hopes that the management of the private tahfiz schools will cooperate with them on this matter.
"It is important that students, teachers and the staff of the tahfiz schools are tested. We are pleading and advising them to come forward so that we can also identify more private tahfiz schools," he said.
On a separate matter, Dr Noor Hisham said they are in the midst of testing a portion of 437 illegal foreigners who are at the Kuala Lumpur detention centre.
This was after one Myanmar national, who was not tested for Covid-19 as it was before the enforcement of the Movement Control Order (MCO), was confirmed positive after returning home.
Dr Noor Hisham said they have isolated the group while 1,000 more detainees who are placed in another block are also being screened and tested for Covid-19.
In another development, Dr Noor Hisham said a psychosocial support hotline, jointly created by the ministry with Mercy Malaysia, received 8,380 calls from March 25 up to Monday.
The objective of the hotline is to assist people in dealing with their emotional difficulties which may be caused by the MCO and the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO).
"A total of 46.8 per cent of calls revolved around emotional issues such as stress, worry and anger due to social factors such as financial problems, loss of income and family disputes; while 20 per cent were on the Covid-19 pandemic.
"There are also calls enquiring about basic necessity assistance (6.9 per cent); marital, relationship problems and domestic violence (6 per cent); psychiatric problems such as anxiety and depression (2.4 per cent); and child abuse (0.2 per cent)," he said.
Dr Noor Hisham said the ministry, along with government agencies and non-governmental organisations, offer callers emotional and social support, counselling, early psychological assistance, relaxation therapies as well as treatments and references for their problems.
He added that it is important for the people to keep their spirits high and keep themselves active.
"My advice to the people is to think positively, seek verified information and not listen to rumours, control their anger, share their feelings with one they can trust, and get emotional support, engage in physical activities, eat healthily and socialise in the new norm," said Dr Noor Hisham.