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span style="font-size:14px">By Melati Mohd Ariff
This is Bernama’s weekly roundup on COVID-19 and related matters in Malaysia and globally from May 28 till noon today.
In Malaysia cases numbers have exceeded 4.5 million and globally, the virus has infected more than 533 million people and caused over 6.3 million deaths. Some 504 million patients have so far recovered from the virus.
The COVID-19 pandemic, which is now in its third year, has affected 228 countries and territories.
KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) – A month after the relaxation of several COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOP), new daily cases are still under control with yesterday’s figure at below 2,000.
Of 1,877 new daily cases reported yesterday (June 2), Selangor contributed 886 cases, followed by Kuala Lumpur (315), Perak (141), Penang (125) and Negeri Sembilan (121).
Other states - Putrajaya 57, Melaka 55, Kedah 46, Johor 42, Sabah 32, Pahang 17, Sarawak 14, Kelantan 14, Terengganu seven (7), Perlis four (4) and Labuan one (1).
A Thai national (wearing a helmet) undergoes a health screening test before being allowed to enter the country at the Rantau Panjang Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex. --fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
For the six-day week from May 28 to June 2, new daily cases in the country saw a 20 per cent drop to 9,262 as compared to the same period (May 21 to May 26) with 11,575 cases.
During the week compiled by Bernama (May 28 to June 2), only two (2) new clusters were reported by the Ministry of Health (MOH), that is on May 31, a high risk cluster category (Jalan Broga cluster), involving Hulu Langat district in Selangor.
As of May 31, there were 23 positive COVID-19 clusters. Another cluster, on June 2 (education – Jalan Ipoh cluster), involving the district of Titiwangsa, Kepong in Kuala Lumpur with 34 positive COVID-19 cases.
This means that during the month of May to date (June 2), four (4) clusters have been reported by the MOH. Other clusters were reported on May 22 in Kinta, Perak (community- Pulai Jaya cluster) involving 35 positive cases; on May 11 in Serian, Sarawak (detention centre – Dti Semuja 4 cluster) with 14 cases.
Overall, a total of 7,014 clusters were detected by MOH during the COVID-19 pandemic which hit the nation over the last two years and as of yesterday (June 2), only four (4) clusters were still active.
With new daily cases of 1,877, Malaysia’s cumulative COVID-cases now stood at 4,510,196.
A total of 1,715 recovered cases were reported yesterday, bringing the cumulative figure as of 11.59 pm on June 2 to 4,451,308.
Home-bound passengers waiting for their transport at the Kuching Sentral bus terminal ahead of the Hari Gawai Dayak celebration. --fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Below is the breakdown of new daily COVID-19 cases during the week compiled by Bernama (May 28 to June 2):-
May 28 (1,645), May 29 (1,155), May 30 (1,325), May 31 (1,451), June 1 (1,809) and June 2 (1,877).
Starting April 1, Malaysia entered its transition to endemic phase of COVID-19 as an exit strategy that allows Malaysians to return to near-normal life after battling the pandemic for nearly two years.
Several COVID-19 SOPs have been relaxed effective May 1. Among others, face mask wearing outdoors is optional, physical distancing is no longer required and MySejahtera check-in requirement is also lifted.
With a cumulative figure of 4,510,196 Malaysia is now ranked 23rd in the list of 228 nations/territories struck by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ahead of Malaysia is Ukraine 5,011,433) and Mexico (5,759,773).
According to Worldometer, of the list of 228 nations, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) continued to record the highest number of new daily infections with 96,610 cases reported yesterday, followed by the United States (US) with 82,896 cases and Taiwan 76,986 cases.
On COVID-19 fatalities, the US reported the highest death cases with 1,032,862 cases reported yesterday.
A send-off ceremony was held in Sepang recently for 340 haj workers who will be deployed to Saudi Arabia to help facilitate the haj operations this year. --fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Meanwhile COVIDNOW data from MOH as of 11.59 pm yesterday showed 22,204 cases (95.7 per cent) were quarantined at home out of 23,208 active cases reported.
A total of 30 cases (0.1 per cent) were at the COVID-19 Integrated Quarantine and Treatment Centre (PKRC); 945 cases (4.1 per cent) at hospitals; 12 cases (0.1 per cent) at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) without respiratory assistance (APB) while 17 cases (0.1 per cent) at the ICU with ABP.
Malaysia’s COVID-19 infectivity rate or Ro/Rt value this week is as follows:
*the lowest level of 0.52 was recorded on May 6.
*once again exceeded 1.00 with 1.05 on May 11.
May 28 (0.94), May 29 (0.90), May 30 (0.91), May 31 (0.90), June 1 (no information) and June 2 (no information).
As of May 31, the state with the highest Ro/Rt value was Sabah (1.03) followed by Sarawak (0.98) and Melaka (0.96).
The R-Naught or R0/Rt value of a virus indicates the infectivity rate or the number of new infections generated by each case. An R0 value of 0.5 would be needed to flatten this deadly virus’ infection curve.
COVID-19 SCENARIO IN MALAYSIA
Latest statistics on hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) cases based on districts in Selangor (May 22 - May 28, 2022) being presented during the HFMD Townhall meeting at Tun Raja Uda library, Section 13, Shah Alam. --fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Recovered cases:
May 28 (1,809), May 29 (1,975), May 30 (1,935), May 31 (2,071), June 1 (1,911) and June 2 (1,715).
* cumulative recovered cases as of June 2 stood at 4,451,308.
Active cases with probable infection:-
May 28 (25,218), May 29 (24,393), May 30 (23,779), May 31 (23,152), June 1 (23,048) and June 2 (23,208).
The breakdown in new daily cases (1,877):-
*state-by-state, as of 11.59 pm yesterday
* (+imported cases)
Latest Status of COVID-19 in Malaysia. New Cases by States. Source: MOH
Three-digit new daily cases - Negeri Sembilan 118 (+3), Perak 141 (+0), Penang 125 (+0), Selangor 886 (+0) and Kuala Lumpur 314 (+1);
Two-digit new daily cases - Johor 41 (+1), Kedah 46 (+0), Kelantan 14 (+0), Melaka 55 (+0), Pahang 16 (+1), Sabah 32 (+0), Sarawak 14 (+0) and Putrajaya 57 (+0);
One-digit new daily cases - Perlis 4 (+0), Terengganu 7 (+0) and Labuan 1 (+0).
New record cases, imported cases, local transmission:
May 28 – New cases: 1,645; Cumulative cases: 4,502,579; Imported cases: 1
May 29 – New cases: 1,155; Cumulative cases: 4,503,734; Imported cases: 3
May 30 – New cases: 1,325; Cumulative cases: 4,505,059; Imported cases: 2
May 31 – New cases: 1,451; Cumulative cases: 4,506,510; Imported cases: 6
June 1 - New cases: 1,809; Cumulative cases: 4,508,319; Imported cases: 5
June 2 – New cases: 1,877; Cumulative cases: 4,510,196; Imported cases: 6
Meanwhile, total active clusters in the country as of yesterday stood at only four (4). Overall, a total of 7,014 clusters were detected in the country.
For the week compiled by Bernama, only two (2) new clusters were detected on May 31, Jalan Broga Cluster (high risk group) in Hulu Langat district, Selangor. As of May 31, MOH has detected 23 positive COVID-19 cases.
The second cluster is education (Jalan Ipoh Cluster) yesterday, involving Titiwangsa and Kepong (Kuala Lumpur). A total of 34 positive COVID-19 cases were detected to date.
New record cases and breakdown of clusters: -
May 28 – No cluster;
May 29 – No cluster;
May 30 – No cluster;
May 31 - 1 (high risk group1);
June 1 – No cluster and
June 2 - 1 education
The daily breakdown in fatalities is as follows:
*BID = Brought-in-Dead are cases outside the hospital and those brought to the hospital's forensic department; positive COVID-19 cases after PT PCR tests conducted.
May 28 - 2 (BID 1), May 29 - 5 (BID 1), May 30 - 4 (BID 1), May 31 - 7 (BID 3), June 1 - 2 (BID 1) and June 2 - 2 (BID 0).
*Total fatalities as of yesterday stood at 35,680 cases.
GLOBAL COVID-19 STATISTICS
Current Worldwide Statistics on COVID-19 and COVID-19 Case Summary in Malaysia. worldometers.info/coronavirus
According to Worldometer, total COVID-19 cases globally to date stood at 534,122,368 (previous week at 530,920,131) with 6,317,436 fatalities (6,309,638 previously). Recovered patients stood at 505,047,976 (previously at 501,496,528).
Some 228 countries are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and those in the top 10 of the list are the US, India, Brazil, France, Germany, the United Kingdom (UK) , Russia, South Korea, Italy and Turkey.
The breakdown of the top 10 nations (+ new record daily cases) is as follows:
US 86,271,283 (+82,896);
India 43,169,599 (+3,861);
Brazil 31,101,290 (+41,273);
France 29,570,762 (+25,365);
Germany 26,469,531 (+47,396);
UK 22,305,893 (+no information);
Russia 18,339,776 (+4,262);
South Korea 18,129,313 (+9,898);
Italy 17,457,950 (+17,193);
Turkey 15,072,747 (+no information).
Besides Malaysia, the Southeast Asian nations namely Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Brunei, have joined the list of 127 countries with more than 100,000 COVID-19 cases.
The cumulative breakdown of COVID-19 cases (+new daily cases) is as follows:-
Vietnam in 12th spot - 10,722,634 (+1,088);
Indonesia in 19th spot - 6,055,645 (+304);
Malaysia in 23rd spot - 4,510,196 (+1,877);
Thailand in 24th spot - 4,457,580 (+2,560);
Philippines in 32nd spot - 3,690,889 (+182;
Singapore in 53rd spot - 1,310,616 (+3,745);
Myanmar in 80th spot - 613,355 (+7);
Laos in 111th spot - 210,045 (+19);
Brunei in 122nd spot - 149,337 (+367) and
Cambodia in 125th spot - 136,262 (+no information).
COVID-19 BACKGROUND
-- The World Health Organisation (WHO)’s China country office was informed of cases of pneumonia that were detected in Wuhan on Dec 31, 2019. On Jan 7, 2020 the Chinese authorities confirmed that the newly detected novel coronavirus can be transmitted from human to human.
-- Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-COV).
-- A study of the virus’ genetic sequence suggested similarities to that seen in snakes and bats. China health officials identified the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan as the source of the transmission of the coronavirus.
-- On Feb 11, 2020, WHO announced the official name of the virus, COVID-19, which is an acronym for coronavirus 2019 – CO stands for corona, VI for virus and D for disease.
-- On Jan 30, 2020, WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak as a global emergency and on March 11, COVID-19 was declared a pandemic.
-- WHO has described the COVID-19 outbreak as much more dangerous than the A H1N1 Influenza, also known as Swine Flu.
-- Swine Flu, which occurred between January 2009 and August 2010, infected more than 1.6 million people and caused 18,449 fatalities. It was first detected in Mexico and later in the United States in March 2009.
-- COVID-19 was detected in Malaysia on Jan 25, 2020, when three Chinese citizens, who had entered Malaysia through Johore from Singapore on Jan 23, were tested positive for the disease.
-- New variants of the COVID-19 coronavirus have since emerged in the United Kingdom (identified as B117) in September 2020, South Africa (501Y.V2) in October 2020 and India (B.1.617), also in October 2020.
-- Cumulatively, Malaysia's COVID-19 cases have breached the one million mark as on July 25, with 1,013,438 cases. The first time daily cases reached the five-digit level was on July 13 with 11,079 cases.
-- WHO on Nov 26 designated a new variant of COVID-19, named Omicron, a variant of concern. It was first detected in Gauteng Province, South Africa.
-- Scientists at the IHU have detected a new variant named B.1.640.2 at end-November last year, with 46 mutations on its spike protein and nicknamed it IHU.
-- Meanwhile, Israel has confirmed its first case of an individual infected with 'Flurona', a term coined to describe the condition of being infected with COVID-19 and the seasonal flu simultaneously. (Jan 2, 2022).
-- April 1, 2022 – Malaysia enters the transition to endemic phase of COVID-19 as an exit strategy that allows Malaysians to return to normalcy after almost two years of battling COVID-19.
-- May 1, 2022 – On April 27, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin announced the easing of several restrictions, which include the lifting of the requirement for check-ins on MySejahtera effective May 1.
Translated by Salbiah Said
BERNAMA
