KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry records 17 new cases of Covid-19 as of noon today, bringing the tally of infections in the country to 9,334.
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the new infections brought the total number of active cases to 160.
He said 15 of the new cases are imported, where 11 of them are Malaysians and the others are foreigners.
He said 14 of the imported cases were registered in Kuala Lumpur, involving returnees from India (12) and Saudi Arabia (two); and one in Sarawak (returnee from Japan).
Meanwhile, two new clusters were detected – MV Glen in Selangor and Telaga in Kedah. One patient each from the two clusters make up the two local transmissions today.
The MV Glen cluster involves a ship in Port Klang. The index case of this cluster; Case 9,286, is a non-citizen and tested positive for the virus on Aug 25 and was admitted to the Sungai Buloh Hospital for treatment.
Today's sole case from this cluster was a close contact to the index case.
Meanwhile, the Telaga cluster in Kedah was detected at the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Alor Setar. Today's sole case from this cluster is was a close contact to the index case (case 9,284). Both are workers at the hospital. The index case tested positive on Aug 24.
10 more Covid-19 patients have recovered and discharged from hospitals today, raising the cumulative number of recovered cases to 9,048 (96.9 per cent).
Dr Noor Hisham said there were seven Covid-19 cases being treated at the intensive care units, with five on ventilator support.
One new death was reported today and the number of Covid-19 fatalities is now 126 (1.35 per cent).
"Case 9,290 was a 75-year-old Malaysian man with a history of diabetes and hypertension, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and heart disease. He had a history of overseas travel. He suffered from coughing and breathing difficulties on Aug 7 and was admitted to the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital, Kedah for pneumonia."
Dr Noor Hisham said the patient was discharged on Aug 18, but suffered from coughing and breathing difficulties again on Aug 21; and received treatment on Aug 24 at the same hospital where he tested positive for Covid-19.
"His health deteriorated and he was pronounced dead on Aug 29 at 5.10pm. The Health Ministry would like to express our condolences to the family of the deceased."
Dr Noor Hisham reminded the public to avoid the 3Cs; confined space, crowded space and close conversation.
Similarly, the public has been urged to practice the 3Ws; hand-washing, wearing of face masks and heed warning from the Health Ministry in efforts to break the chain of Covid-19 infection.