COVID-19: 13 new cases recorded today - Dr Noor Hisham

KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 -- A total of 13 new cases was reported today, bringing the cumulative total of positive COVID-19 cases in Malaysia  to 8,956.

Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said from the 13 new cases, eight were imported cases involving four Malaysians and four foreigners who were infected abroad.

He explained that the import cases were from United Kingdom (two cases in Kuala Lumpur), India (two cases in Kuala Lumpur, Philippines (one case in Kuala Lumpur), Pakistan (one case in Kuala Lumpur and one case each from Gambia and Ukraine in Selangor.

“As such, the total active cases with COVID-19 infectivity is 220 cases. The patients have been isolated and are being treated,” he said in a statement on the current COVID-19 situation today.

Dr Noor Hisham said from the five local transmissions, three were among locals involving one at workplace screening in Johor, Sarawak ( one from Sentosa cluster) and Sabah (screening of a patient with symptoms in Queen Elizabeth Hospital).

Two cases among foreigners were one in the Mambong cluster in Sarawak and one from screening an illegal immigrant in Perlis.

On the status of the Mambong and Sentosa clusters in Sarawak, he said as at 12 noon today, 198 people have been screened in the Mambong cluster involving 188 residents and 10 non-citizens.

“From the total, seven were detected positive for COVID-19, comprising two foreigners and 191 were tested negative,’ he said.

For the Sentosa cluster, Dr Noor Hisham said 1,026 people were screened with 31 found positive, 888 negative while 107 are still waiting for results.

 “The cluster also involved second generation cases. The source of infection is still being investigated. From initial investigations, it was found it was probably from activities in the community,” he said.

Apart from that, he also said there were five cases of recovery, bringing the cumulative cases of recoveries to 8,612 or 96.2 per cent from the overall total.

There are only two positive cases being treated at the intensive care unit (ICU) now and as there were no COVID-19 related deaths reported today, the death toll stays at 124 case, he said.

-- BERNAMA