Covid-19: 170 new infections, Sulawesi gathering participant dies

CORONAVIRUS | Malaysia today recorded 170 new Covid-19 cases, bringing the total to 3,963 infections since the start of the outbreak in the country, according to Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

He also reported one new death involving a man who had attended a religious gathering in Sulawesi from March 17 to March 24.

The decease is "Patient 3,794", who is a 71-year-old Malaysian from Perlis.

"He had a history of attending a religious gathering in Sulawesi, Indonesia," Noor Hisham said.

He was treated at Enche' Besar Hajjah Khalsom Hospital in Kluang, Johor on April 5 but unfortunately passed away on April 6 at 11pm.

This brings the death toll to 63, or 1.6 percent of total Covid-19 cases, Noor Hisham told a press conference in Putrajaya today.

Of those under treatment, Hisham said 92 people are in intensive care units (ICU), down from 102 yesterday.

For Covid-19 patients in ICU, 50 are on ventilators, down from 54 people yesterday.

On a positive note, one-third of all Covid-19 patients have recovered.

Noor Hisham reported 80 new recoveries today, bringing the total number of patients discharged to 1,321 people.

In conjunction with World Health Day today, he also thanked frontliners for their contributions.

Noor Hisham further conveyed his appreciation to those working behind the scenes to make the government's Covid-19 response a success.

He reiterated the importance of personal hygiene and social distancing in combating Covid-19.

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