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span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">By Melati Mohd Ariff
This is Bernama’s weekly roundup on COVID-19 and related matters in Malaysia and globally from Dec 17 to noon today.
In Malaysia, case numbers stood at 5.02 million and globally, the virus has infected more than 660 million people and caused over 6.68 million deaths. Some 633 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) – Three-digit new daily COVID-19 cases were still reported during the six-day week (Dec 17 to Dec 22), 18 per cent lower to 5,219 cases from 6,433 during the previous week.
Only three (3) death cases and one (1) imported case was reported out of 858 new daily cases yesterday (Dec 22).
The Ministry of Health (MOH)’s MOHNOW data as of 11.59pm yesterday showed cumulative COVID-19 cases in the country stood at 5,021,242. Active cases dropped to 14,590 and out of the total, 93.8 per cent (13,685) were quarantined at home.
--fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
State-state breakdown showed out of 858 cases, Selangor took the lead with 348 cases, followed by Kuala Lumpur with 107 cases,
Twelve states reported two-digit figures namely Melaka (69), Sarawak (58), Kedah (55), Penang (47), Negeri Sembilan (35), Perak (32), Kelantan (26), Sabah (22), Johor (15), Terengganu (15), Putrajaya (13) and Pahang (11).
One-digit cases were reported in Perlis (4) and Labuan (1).
Following are new daily COVID-19 cases during the week compiled by Bernama from Dec 17 to Dec 22:-
Dec 17 (993), Dec 18 (847), Dec 19 (721), Dec 20 (816), Dec 21 (984) and Dec 22 (858).
New COVID-19 cases during the week compiled by Bernama from Dec 10 to Dec 16 are as below:-
Dec 10 (1,315), Dec 11 (867), Dec 12 (809), Dec 13 (1,040), Dec 14 (1,241), Dec 15 (1,161) and Dec 16 (1,138).
Daily COVID-19 cases in neighbouring Singapore for the week Dec 17 to Dec 22 are as follows:-
Dec 17 (1,052), Dec 18 (838), Dec 19 (708), Dec 20 (1,540), Dec 21 (1,093) and Dec 22 (1,200).
--fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
With a cumulative figure of 5,021,242 cases, Malaysia now ranked 27th in the list of 228 countries/territories hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ahead of Malaysia are Ukraine (5,350,380) and Greece (5,548,058).
According to Worldometer, of the list of 228 countries, Japan reported the highest new daily cases (184,375) followed by South Korea (75,744) and France (49,517).
On COVID-19 fatalities, the United States (US) reported the highest figure with 1,115,748 cases.
COVID-19 SCENARIO IN MALAYSIA
--fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
MOHNOW data as at 11.59pm yesterday showed out of 14,590 active COVID-19 cases, 13,685 (93.8 per cent) were quarantined at home.
Zero (0) case was reported at the COVID-19 Integrated Quarantine and Treatment Centre (PKRC); 859 cases (5.9 per cent) at hospitals; 23 cases (0.2 per cent) at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) without respiratory assistance (ABP) and 23cases (0.2 per cent) at the ICU with ABP.
For the record, there are five categories of COVID-19 infections:-
According to MOH, Category 1 is for patients with no symptoms; Category 2 is for patients with mild symptoms; Category 3 is for patients with pneumonia; Category 4 is for patients who require supplemental oxygen; and Category 5 is for the critically ill and need to be on ventilator support at the ICU.
Recovered cases:-
--fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Dec 17 (1,460), Dec 18 (1,154), Dec 19 (914), Dec 20 (940), Dec 21 (1,534) and Dec 22 (1,119).
*Cumulative recovered cases as of yesterday stood at 4,969,828.
Active cases with probable infections:-
Dec 17 (16,049), Dec 18 (15,736) Dec 19 (15,541), Dec 20 (15,411), Dec 21 (14,854) and Dec 22 (14,590).
Breakdown in new daily cases (858 cases) :-
Latest Status of COVID-19 in Malaysia. New Cases by States. Source: MOH
Three-digit - Selangor 348 (+0) and Kuala Lumpur 107 (+0).
Two-digit - Melaka 68 (+1), Sarawak 58 (+0), Kedah 55 (+0), Penang 47 (+0), Negeri Sembilan 35 (+0), Perak 32 (+0), Kelantan 26 (+0), Sabah 22 (+0), Johor 15 (+0), Terengganu 15 (+0), Putrajaya 13 (+0) and Pahang 11 (+0).
One digit - Perlis 4 (+0) and Labuan 1 (+0).
New record cases, imported cases, local transmission:
Dec 17 - New cases 993; Cumulative cases 5,017,016; Imported cases 2
Dec 18 - New 847; Cumulative cases 5,017,863; Imported cases 2
Dec 19 - New cases 721; Cumulative cases 5,018,584; Imported cases 3
Dec 20 - New cases 816; Cumulative cases 5,019,400; Imported cases 1
Dec 21 - New cases 984; Cumulative 5,020,384; Imported case 2
Dec 22 - New cases 858; Cumulative cases 5,021,242; Imported cases 1
Record death cases are as below:-
*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.
Dec 17 - 5 (BID 3), Dec 18 - 6 (BID 0), Dec 19 - 2 (BID 0), Dec 20 - 6 (BID 1), Dec 21 - 7 (BID 1), and Dec 22 - 3 (BID 0).
*As of yesterday, Malaysia’s COVID-19 death toll stood at 36,824.
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 stood at 660,249,602 (previous week at 657,025,803 cases) with 6,680,683 death cases (6,669,804 cases previously).
A total of 633,319,207 recoveries were reported as against 631,071,466 cases during the previous week.
Some 228 countries are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and those in the top 10 of the list are the US, India, France, Germany, Brazil, South Korea, Japan, Italy, the United Kingdom (UK) and Russia.
The breakdown of the top 10 nations (+ new record daily cases) is as follows:-
*No information (NA).
US 102,173,897 (+43,263)
India 44,677,820 (+226)
France 39,075,247 +(49,517)
Germany 37,136,414 (NA)
Brazil 36,080,427 (+43,392)
South Korea 28,466,390 (+75,744)
Japan 27,765,782 (+184,375)
Italy 24,884,034 (NA)
UK 24,089,042 (NA)
Russia 21,743,302 (+7,451)
Below is a breakdown of cumulative COVID-19 cases and (+new daily cases) among Southeast Asian nations, including Malaysia:-
*No information (NA).
Vietnam 13th spot - 11,523,780 (+213)
Indonesia 20th spot - 6,713,879 (+1,053)
Malaysia 27th spot - 5,021,242 (+858)
Thailand 31st spot - 4,718,908 (NA)
Philippines 37th spot - 4,059,369 (+1,031)
Singapore 45th spot - 2,193,890 (+1,200)
Myanmar 83rd spot - 633,590 (+5)
Brunei 110th spot - 261,440 (NA)
Laos 113th spot - 217,586 (+60)
Cambodia 125th spot - 138,467 (+10)
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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
