Covid-19 (March 9): 1,280 new cases, 9 deaths

COVID-19 | The Health Ministry today reported 1,280 new Covid-19 cases and nine deaths in the 24-hour period ending noon today.

The new cases comprise 71.9 percent Malaysians. Most of the new cases were reported in the Klang Valley (45.8 percent) followed by Johor 12.9 percent and Sarawak (12.7 percent).

• Active cases: 18,704
• Patients in ICUs: 155
• Intubated: 76

The number of Covid-19 patients requiring intensive care have not been this low in two months, while the number of active cases are currently at levels not seen since late December, 2020. 

Deaths

Of the nine deaths reported today, five were reported in the Klang Valley and one case reported in Kuala Lumpur, Terengganu, Perak, Sabah and Sarawak respectively. 

The Klang Valley currently accounted for 35.16 percent of all Covid-19 deaths in the country. 

The country's Covid-19 death toll stood at 1,186. 

One of the victim - a foreigner, age 38 - was brought to the Canselor Tuanku Muhriz Hospital in Kuala Lumpur after he died. 

The age of the other victims ranged from 51 to 88. Details of the victims are on Malaysiakini's Covid-19 tracker page. 

Clusters

There are currently 457 active Covid-19 cases in the country of which 63 reported new cases today. 

The largest number of new cases in a single cluster today was 36 - a welcome sign since new clusters in the three digits used to be the norm during the last movement control order (MCO) period. 

The Health Ministry today reported nine new clusters of which two involved community spread that did not involve work places.

A cluster known as Jalan Setia Jaya involved a social event in Batu Pahat, Johor. There's another community cluster in Sungai Lembing, Pahang but there are little details.

Jalan Nusa Mega cluster
District(s): Johor Bahru, Johor
Locality/Source: Factory in Jalan Mega 1, Taman Perindustrian Nusa Cemerlang
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: March 4, index case with symptoms
Total infected: 36 out of 182 screened

Jalan Industri A1 cluster
District(s): Tangkak, Johor
Locality/Source: Factory in Jalan Industri A1, Muar.
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: March 5, index cases detected as part of pre-departure screening
Total infected: 21 out of 31 screened

Tapak Bina Jalan U-Thant cluster
District(s): Titiwangsa, WP Kuala Lumpur
Locality/Source: Construction site in Jalan U-Thant
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: March 9, targeted screening
Total infected: 35 out of 158 screened

Tapak Bina Jalan Salak cluster
District(s): Lembah Pantai, WP Kuala Lumpur
Locality/Source: Construction site in Jalan Salak Selatan, Lembah Pantai
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: March 8, targeted screening
Total infected: 16 out of 29 screened

Lorong Kilang cluster
District(s): Petaling and Klang, Selangor
Locality/Source: Factory in Lorong Kilang, Petaling Jaya.
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Feb 6, targeted screening
Total infected: 41 out of 419 screened

Medan Bayan Lepas cluster
District(s): Barat Daya, Timur Laut, Seberang Perai Utara, Seberang Perai Tengah, and Seberang Perai Selatan, Pulau Pinang
Locality/Source: Factory in Medan Bayan Lepas, Zon Perindustrian Bebas Bayan Lepas
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: Feb 26, targeted screening
Total infected: 65 out of 428 screened

Sungai Lembing cluster
District(s): Kuantan, Pahang
Locality/Source: Unnamed locality in Sungai Lembing
Cluster category: Community
First case: March 3, index case with symptoms
Total infected: 13 out of 135 screened

Jalan Setia Jaya cluster
District(s): Batu Pahat, Johor
Locality/Source: Social event in Jalan Setia Jaya Utama
Cluster category: Community
First case: March 8, index case with symptoms
Total infected: 28 out of 56 screened

Amanjaya cluster
District(s): Kuala Muda, Kedah
Locality/Source: Medical centre in Bandar Aman Jaya, Sungai Petani.
Cluster category: At-risk groups
First case: Feb 26, index case with symptoms
Total infected: 16 out of 61 screened