<
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 Jan 21 to noon today.
In Malaysia, case numbers surpassed 5.03 million and globally, the virus has infected more than 674 million people and caused some 6.7 million deaths. More than 646 million patients have so far recovered from the virus.
The COVID-19 pandemic, which is now in its fourth year, has affected 229 countries and territories.
KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) – It has been three years since the COVID-19 pandemic swept the nation on Jan 25, 2020. As of yesterday, the number of cases has declined to 5,035,377 with 4,988,814 recoveries and 36,936 fatalities.
Out of the new daily cases which saw its high of over 30,000 (33,406 on March 5, 2022), new daily COVID-19 cases in the country declined to its lowest at 101 infections on Jan 24, 2023. For the record, active cases in the country on March 5, 2022 stood at 311,206.
Out of the remaining 9,627 active cases, 96 per cent (9,245 cases) are quarantined at home.
An aerial view of the traffic at Gombak Toll Plaza heading towards the city as Malaysians return home after the Chinese New Year holiday. --fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
For the record, the first case of COVID-19 (previously known as 2019-nCOV) was reported on Jan 25, 2020, when three Chinese citizens, who had entered Malaysia through Johor from Singapore on Jan 23, were tested positive for the disease.
On April 1, 2022, Malaysia entered the transition to endemic phase, and according to the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH), “the transition could be achieved following the success of the COVID-19 vaccination programme and the manageable healthcare service system”.
According to news reports, the World Health Organisation (WHO) will decide today (Friday, Jan 27) if it is still a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, three years after the organisation first triggered the alarm.
Globally, more than 674 million people have been infected by COVID-19 with some 6.7 million deaths. The United States (US) reported the highest number of fatalities with 1,132,132 cases.
For the last week of January, 2023, Malaysia’s new daily COVID-19 cases have dropped below 350 with total infections of 1,149 for the period Jan 21 to Jan 26, down 36 per cent from 1,796 cases (Jan 14 to Jan 19).
Yesterday, new daily cases stood at 172 including three (3) deaths and one (1) imported case.
Of 172 cases, five (5) states recorded two digit numbers namely Selangor (58) Kuala Lumpur (35), Kedah (13), Sarawak (12) and Johor (10). Two (2) states reported zero cases namely Perlis and Pahang.
Other states reported one digit figures namely Kelantan (9), Perak (8), Melaka (7), Sabah (5), Negeri Sembilan (4), Penang (4), Putrajaya (3), Terengganu (2) and Labuan (2).
Total cumulative COVID-19 cases in the country, according to MOHNOW data as of 11.59 pm yesterday stood at 5,035,377 cases.
With a cumulative figure of 5,035,377 cases, Malaysia now ranked 28th in the list of 229 countries/territories hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ahead of Malaysia are Chile (5,111,145 cases) and Ukraine (5,367,032 cases).
According to Worldometer, of the list of 229 countries, Japan reported the highest new daily cases (59,885) followed by South Korea (35,096) and Taiwan (19,144).
On COVID-19 fatalities, the US reported the highest figure with 1,132,132 cases.
Locals and foreigners alike take advantage of the Chinese New Year holiday to explore the city, with popular tourist hotspot, Bukit Bintang crowded with visitors. --fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Below are new daily COVID-19 cases during the week compiled by Bernama from Jan 21 to Jan 26:-
Jan 21 (293), Jan 22 (309), Jan 23 (142), Jan 24 (101), Jan 25 (132) and Jan 26 (172).
New COVID-19 cases during the week compiled by Bernama from Jan 14 to Jan 20:-
Jan 14 (287), Jan 15 (244), Jan 16 (227), Jan 17 (350), Jan 18 (371), Jan 19 (318) and Jan 20 (285).
Daily COVID-19 cases in neighbouring Singapore from Jan 21 to Jan 26 are as below:-
Jan 21 (269), Jan 22 (170), Jan 23 (78), Jan 24 (125), Jan 25 (164) and Jan 26 (508).
COVID-19 SCENARIO IN MALAYSIA
Residents waiting for their food supply from the Kelantan state government to be despatched by the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) at the Orang Asli Gob post in Gua Musang. --fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
(MOHNOW data as of 11.59pm yesterday)
According to MOHNOW, out of 9,627 active COVID-19 cases, 9,245 (96 per cent) were quarantined at home.
Zero (0) case was reported at the COVID-19 Integrated Quarantine and Treatment Centre (PKRC); 369 cases (3.8 per cent) at hospitals; 3 cases (0 per cent) at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) without respiratory assistance (ABP) and 10 cases (0.1 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.
Total patients warded:-
Jan 21 (138), Jan 22 (169), Jan 23 (167), Jan 24 (131), Jan 25 (128) and Jan 26 (178).
Recovered cases:-
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah during a recreational fishing trip at Afprow 1, Saujana Utama, Sungai Buloh recently. --fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Jan 21 (326), Jan 22 (292), Jan 23 (267), Jan 24 (315), Jan 25 (346) and Jan 26 (325).
*cumulative recovered cases as of 11.59pm yesterday stood at 4,988,814.
Imported cases:-
Jan 21 (0), Jan 22 (1), Jan 23 (1), Jan 24 (1), Jan 25 (2) and Jan 26 (1).
Active cases with probable infections:-
Jan 21 (10,320), Jan 22 (10,337), Jan 23 (10,212), Jan 24 (9,998), Jan 25 (9,783) and Jan 26 (9,627).
Breakdown in new daily cases (172 cases):-
*state-to-state breakdown as of 11.59pm yesterday
*(+imported cases)
Latest Status of COVID-19 in Malaysia. New Cases by States. Source: MOH
Two digits - Selangor 58 (+0), Kuala Lumpur 34 (+1), Kedah 13 (+0), Sarawak 12 (+0) and Johor 10 (+0).
One digit - Kelantan 9 (+0), Perak 8 (+0), Melaka 7 (+0), Sabah 5 (+0), Negeri Sembilan 4 (+0),Penang 4 (+0), Putrajaya 3 (+0), Terengganu 2 (+0) and Labuan 2 (+0).
Zero case - Perlis and Pahang.
New record cases, imported cases, local transmission:
Jan 21 - New cases 293; Cumulative cases 5,034,521; Imported cases 0
Jan 22 - New cases 309; Cumulative cases 5,034,830; Imported cases 1
Jan 23 - New cases 142; Cumulative cases 5,034,972; Imported cases 1
Jan 24 - New cases 101; Cumulative cases 5,035,073; Imported cases 1
Jan 25 - New cases 132; Cumulative cases 5,035,205; Imported cases 2
Jan 26 - New cases 172; Cumulative cases 5,035,377; 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.
Jan 21 - 2 (BID 0), Jan 22 -0 (BID 0), Jan 23 - 0 (BID 0), Jan 24 - 0 (BID 0 Jan 25 - 1 (BID 0) and Jan 26 - 3 (BID 3).
*As of yesterday, Malaysia’s COVID-19 death toll stood at 36,936.
GLOBAL COVID-19 STATISTICS
Current Worldwide Statistics on COVID-19 and COVID-19 Case Summary in Malaysia. worldometers.info/coronavirus
According to Worldometer, total global COVID-19 cases stood at 674,285,275 compared to 672,842,041 cases during the previous week with 6,754,532 deaths (6,742,116 previously).
A total of 646,299,333 recovered cases were reported as against 644,488,957 previously.
Some 229 countries are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and those in the top 10 of the list are the US, India, France, Germany, Brazil, Japan, South Korea, 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 104,093,434 (+18,392)
India 44,682,338 (+NA)
France 39,503,473 (+5,287)
Germany 37,715,000 (NA)
Brazil 36,794,650 (+13,782)
Japan 32,310,939 (+59,885)
South Korea 30,975,652 (+35,096)
Italy 25,415,630 (NA)
UK 24,259,240 (NA)
Russia 21,917,097 (+7,077)
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 - 11,526,365 (+17)
Indonesia 20th spot - 6,728,998 (+322)
Malaysia 28th spot - 5,035,377 (+172)
Thailand 31st spot - 4,726,512 (NA)
Philippines 37th spot - 4,072,488 (+181)
Singapore 45th spot - 2,215,109 (+508)
Myanmar 84th spot - 633,815 (+1)
Brunei 107th spot - 275,220 (NA)
Laos 113th spot - 217,959 (+8)
Cambodia 125th spot - 138,681 (+2)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
-- The pre endemic scenario shows the XBB variant was dominant in the spread of COVID-19 in the country based on the genetic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 throughout December 2022, comprising 55.4 per cent, followed by the BA.2.75 variant (20.8 per cent) and BQ.1 variant (10.8 per cent).
-- The XBB variant was the main variant spreading among Malaysians since October 2022. Both the XBB and BA.2.75 variants are categorised by WHO as Lineage Under Monitoring (LUM).
-- One of the Omicron sub-variants originally detected in October 2022 is XBB.1.5, a recombinant of two BA.2 sublineages. It is on the rise in the US and Europe and has now been identified in more than 25 countries.
-- Some scientists have nicknamed the XBB.1.5 Omicron strain as ‘Kraken’ with the potential of spawning more dangerous variants. WHO has announced that it had commissioned a risk assessment that outlines the new threats the XBB.1.5 variant poses, if any.
-- In China, the BA.5.2 and BF.7 variants accounted for almost 80 per cent of the variants that are currently found to be spreading rapidly in the republic.
Translated by Salbiah Said
BERNAMA
