COVID-19: 13 new cases, including nine imported ones - Health DG

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 9  -- Thirteen new COVID-19 cases were reported in Malaysia today, comprising nine imported and four local transmission cases, said Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

He said the imported cases involved five Malaysians and four foreigners.

All the local transmission cases involved Malaysians -- two linked to the Sivagangga PUI Cluster, and one each to the Kurau and Meranti clusters, he added.

“For the imported cases, two each were from China, India and Japan and one each was from Ireland, Indonesia and Yemen.

“For the local transmissions, three cases were detected in Penang and one was confirmed in the Federal Territory of Putrajaya,” he said in a statement.

Dr Noor Hisham said nine cases were discharged today, bringing the cumulative figure for recoveries to 8,784, or 96.7 per cent of the total number of positive cases.

He said one positive case was still being treated in the Intensive Care Unit but the patient was not on ventilator support.

No fatalities were reported today and the death toll remains at 125, he said.

On developments concerning the Sivagangga PUI Cluster, Dr Noor Hisham said that so far 4,636 people had been screened, with 45 having tested positive, 4,105 negative and 486 are still awaiting their test results.

“The COVID-19 screenings were conducted in three states -- Kedah (4,078), Perlis (390) and Penang (168). Screening of close contacts and active case detection are continuing,” he said.

Dr Noor Hisham said the Health Ministry had taken various preventive measures like sanitisation in several areas identified as closely linked to the cluster.

-- BERNAMA