Covid-19 cases climb to 99: One more recovered, two in ICU

CORONAVIRUS | The Health Ministry today confirmed that six new patients are infected with Covid-19, bringing the total cases in the country to 99.

Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the six new cases were again traced back to the cluster of infections from Patient 26.

"All the cases have been tracked and isolated for further treatment. Their close contacts are also being identified and their samples taken," he said.

Patient 26 is the Khazanah National Berhad executive director and Uda Holdings Berhad chairperson Hisham Hamdan.

Of the 99 recorded cases, 22 were from the first wave of infections from Jan 25 to Feb 16. All those infected during the first wave have fully recovered.

The remaining 77 cases came during the second wave of infection which started on Feb 28.

Hisham said under the second wave, only five patients had a record of travelling abroad, suggesting that the infections were imported while the rest were local transmissions.

In a related development, Hisham said Patient 41 has recovered and discharged from Kuala Lumpur Hospital.

This brings the total recovery throughout the Covid-19 outbreak to 24 or two under the second wave.

However, he said two other patients are under intensive care.

"Two cases were reported to require breathing aid and are being treated in the intensive care unit. The cases are also given anti-viral treatment," he said.

Hisham said the Health Ministry has also been tracing sporadic cases by testing patients with influenza-like illness and severe acute respiratory infection with no travel history to countries affected by Covid-19 or having close contact with Covid-19 patients.

In short, the Health Ministry is trying to establish whether there are undiscovered Covid-19 infections that are not part of the cluster of infections already known to the health authorities.

"Up to March 8, a total of 567 samples were tested and to date, none were positive with Covid-19.

"Based on current information, at present, there are no sporadic Covid-19 cases that have been detected through this surveillance activity," he said.

Hisham reiterated the importance of good hygiene to curb the spread of the coronavirus and advised people to postpone travelling to countries worst-hit by Covid-19.

He added that anyone who has respiratory infection-like symptoms such as fever, coughing and difficulty breathing should immediately seek treatment.

Hisham said people with such symptoms should also refrain from visiting places with large crowds.