Covid-19 (Jan 17): 3,339 new cases, spike in ICU patients

COVID-19 | The Health Ministry today reported 3,339 new Covid-19 cases, the second-highest number of daily infections, surpassed only by yesterday's record-breaking 4,029 cases.

A total of seven states and federal territory recorded three-digit gains but Selangor again broke the four-digit threshold with 1,314 new cases.

The death toll also breached the 600-mark for the first time.

Most notable is the new record high of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) which jumped from 205 to 240.

The 35 new ICU cases are the highest one-day gain on record.

The previous largest one-day gain was on March 30 last year when 21 people were placed under ICU care in a single day.

Yesterday, Malaysiakini reported that the government was turning to private hospitals as the ICU capacity in public hospitals was rapidly dwindling.

On the flip side, Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said another 2,676 Covid-19 patients have recovered.

However, they are still below the number of new cases, meaning there is still an overall gain of Covid-19 patients under treatment, further putting a strain on the already overwhelmed health system.

Leading indicators:

• Active cases: 37,782 ↑ (656 more than the previous day, new record)
• Patients in ICU: 240 ↑ (35 more than the previous day, new record)
• Intubated patients: 93 ↑ (14 more than the previous day)
• Deaths: 7 (↓ One less than the previous day)

The latest fatalities put the death toll at 601. The new deaths are in Selangor (3), Johor (2), Negeri Sembilan (1) and Kedah (1). Details are as follows:

dyslipidemia and obesity.

Patient 118,543 (Death 596) - 62-year-old Malaysian man. Died at Enche' Besar Hajjah Khalsom Hospital, Kluang. Had a history of diabetes and heart disease.

Patient 120,688 (Death 597) - 93-year-old Malaysian man. Died at Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital, Alor Setar. Had a history of diabetes, high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease and heart disease.

Patient 140,362 (Death 598) - 61-year-old Malaysian woman. Died at Enche' Besar Hajjah Khalsom Hospital, Kluang. Had a history of diabetes, high blood pressure and pulmonary tuberculosis.

Patient 148,498 (Death 599) - 32-year-old Malaysian woman. Brought in dead at Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital, Klang. No reported pre-existing conditions.

Patient 152,481 (Death 600) - 78-year-old Malaysian woman. Died at Sungai Buloh hospital. Had a history of diabetes and high blood pressure.

Patient 152,513 (Death 601) - 58-year-old woman who is a non-citizen. Died at Tengku AMpuan Rahimah Hospital, Klang. Had a history of heart disease and Alzheimer's disease.

Breakdown of new Covid-19 cases by states:

Selangor (1,314)
Existing clusters: 474
New clusters: 130 (Jalan Pandan Indah cluster & Sepang Immigration Detention Centre 2 cluster)
Close contacts: 518
Other screenings: 192

Sabah (393)
Existing clusters: 5
New clusters: 32 (Taman Ikan Jinak cluster & Jalan Mawila cluster)
Close contacts: 234
Other screenings: 122

Johor (362)
Existing clusters: 109
New cluster: 33 (Jalan Perak cluster)
Close contacts: 116
Imported: 2
Other screenings: 102

Kuala Lumpur (334)
Existing clusters: 49
New clusters: 44 (Jalan Menerung cluster & Jalan Yap construction site cluster)
Close contacts: 129
Imported: 13
Other screenings: 99

Negeri Sembilan (236)
Existing clusters: 178
Close contacts: 38
Other screenings: 20

Pulau Pinang (120)

Existing clusters: 48
Close contacts: 24
Other screenings: 48

Kelantan (114)
Existing clusters: 25
Close contacts: 55
Other screenings: 34

Perak (107)
Existing clusters: 12
Close contacts: 55
Other screenings: 40

Kedah (96)
Existing clusters: 20
Close contacts: 58
Other screenings: 18

Sarawak (62)
Existing clusters: 45
Other screenings: 17

Pahang (61)
Existing clusters: 13
New cluster: 3 (Rantau Lada cluster)
Close contacts: 36
Other screenings: 9

Malacca (60)
Existing clusters: 15
New cluster: 4 (Pantai Peringgit cluster)
Close contacts: 31
Other screenings: 10

Putrajaya (35)
Existing clusters: 2
Close contacts: 11
Other screenings: 10

Labuan (22)
Existing clusters: 1
New cluster: 10 (Jalan Mohammed Salleh cluster)
Close contacts: 8
Other screenings: 3

Terengganu (22)
Existing clusters: 4
Close contacts: 10
Other screenings: 8

Perlis (13)
Close contacts: 13

Noor Hisham said to date, 292 out of 651 Covid-19 clusters are still active but only 86 of them contributed to new cases today.

He also announced that three clusters, namely Bayam Indah, Jesselton construction site and Andalas have been declared over.

However, he also reported the emergence of 10 new clusters in Selangor (2), Sabah (2), Kuala Lumpur (2), Johor (1), Pahang (1), Malacca (1) and Labuan (1).

Details of the new clusters are as follows:

Jalan Pandan Indah cluster
Location: Hulu Langat, Selangor
Locality/Source: Factory along Jalan Pandan Indah
Screening type: Workplace
First case: Jan 17
Total infected: 77 out of 87 screened

Sepang Immigration Detention Centre 2 cluster
Location: Sepang, Selangor
Locaility/Source: Sepang immigration depot along Jalan Pekeliling 4
Screening type: Detention centre
First case: Jan 3
Total infected: 80 out of 238 screened

Taman Ikan Jinak cluster
Locations: Tuaran and Kota Belud in Sabah
Locality/Source: Family gathering at Taman Ikan Jinak Melangkap Tiong
Screening type: Symptomatic individuals
First case: Jan 12
Total infected: 21 out of 46 screened

Jalan Mawali cluster
Location: Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Locality/Source: Sepanggar Royal Malaysian Navy base
Screening type: Interstate travel
First case: Jan 13
Total infected: 15 out of 130 screened

Jalan Perak cluster
Location: Johor Bahru, Johor
Locality/Source: Factory along Jalan Perak 4, Pasir Gudang
Screening type: Workplace
First case: Dec 31, 2020
Total infected: 35 out of 504 screened

Jalan Menerung cluster
Location: Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur
Locality/Source: Security guards at One Menerung Apartment
Screening type: Workplace
First case: Jan 17
Total infected: 23 out of 26 screened

Jalan Yap construction site cluster
Location: Titiwangsa, Kuala Lumpur
Locality/Source: Construction site along Jalan Yap Kwan Seng, Kampung Baru, KL
Screening type: Workplace
First case: Jan 17
Total infected: 21 out of 47 screened

Rantau Lada cluster
Locations: Temerloh and Maran in Pahang
Locality/Source: Individual residing at Kampung Bukit Lada and travelled interstate.
Screening type: Symptomatic individuals
First case: Jan 9
Total infected: 19 out of 58 screened

Pantai Peringgit cluster
Locations: Melaka Tengah and Jasin in Malacca
Locality/Source: Individual residing along Jalan Solok Pantai Peringgit, Peringgit
Screening type: Symptomatic individuals
First case: Jan 11
Total infected: 24 out of 128 screened

Jalan Mohammad Salleh cluster
Location: Labuan
Locality/Source: Labuan Industrial Training Institute
Screening type: Symptomatic individuals
First case: Jan 16
Total infected: 12 out of 423 screened