COVID-19: New Daily Cases Continue To Surge This Week

By Melati Mohd Ariff

This is Bernama’s weekly roundup on COVID-19 and related matters in Malaysia and globally from June 25 till noon today.

In Malaysia, cases numbers have exceeded 4.56 million and globally, the virus has infected more than 552 million people and caused over 6.35 million deaths. Some 527 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) – New daily COVID-19 cases continued to surge this week with yesterday’s figure (June 30) reaching 2,867 cases, the highest for June.

Yesterday’s new cases brought the nation’s COVID-19 active cases with probable infection to 29,434 while total cumulative cases now stood at 4,566,055.

Of 2,857 cases yesterday, Kuala Lumpur reported the highest new daily cases at 906, followed by Selangor (881), Negeri Sembilan (168), Sabah (154), Perak (143) and Penang (119).

Other states with two-digit new daily cases are Melaka (95), Johor (79), Putrajaya (72), Sarawak (68), Kedah (63), Pahang (50), Terengganu (25), Labuan (17), Kelantan (17) and Perlis (10).

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin (centre) at the appreciation ceremony of the COVID-19 Movement Control Order (MCO) SOP Enforcement and Compliance Coordinating Committee (JKPS). --fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Below is the breakdown of new daily COVID-19 cases during the week compiled by Bernama (June 25 to June 30) are :-

June 25 (2,303), June 26 (2,003), June 27 (1,894), June 28 (2,025), June 29 (2,605) and June 30(2,867).

New COVID-19 cases during the week compiled by Bernama (June 18 to June 23):

June 18 (2,127), June 19 (1,690), June 20 (2,093), June 21 (1,921), June 22 (2,425) and June 23 (2,796).

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has earlier warned that a new wave of COVID-19 infections in the country is expected to occur earlier than predicted based on a rise in daily cases in the country and Singapore.

Picnicking and rubber boat rides are among the popular tourist activities in Pulau Betong, Sungai Sat which is located in Jerantut, Pahang. --fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Singapore’s new COVID-19 daily cases are still high based on Worldometer data below:-

June 25 (6,168), June 26 (5,116), June 27 (5,309), June 28 (11,504), June 29 (9,362) and June 30 (9,505).

According to MOH, a total of 2,145 recovered COVID-19 cases were reported as of 11.59 pm on June 30, bringing the cumulative figure to 4,500,856.

During the week compiled by Bernama, MOH reported two (2) new clusters namely education cluster (Seri Nanas Cluster), which was detected on June 30 in Hilir Perak, Perak, involving six (6) cases to date.

Another cluster, high risk group (Jalan Camar Cluster) was reported on June 25, involving 20 cases, in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan.

Overall, MOH has detected 7,020 clusters since the COVID-19 pandemic struck the nation more than two years ago. As of yesterday, seven (7) clusters were still active.

With a cumulative figure of 4,528,294 cases, Malaysia is now ranked 25th in the list of 228 nations/territories struck by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ahead of Malaysia is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) with 4,739,860 cases and Ukraine 5,017,038 cases.

According to Worldometer, of the list of 228 nations, France recorded the highest number of new daily infections with 133,346 cases, followed by the United States (US) at 85,976 cases and Italy 83,274 cases.

Captain Eezmaira Sazzea Shaharuzzaman (background pix) is the first female recipient of the prestigious National Seafarer of The Year award. Her father, Shaharuzzaman Abdul Rahman (right) received the award from Deputy Transport Minister, Datuk Henry Sum Agong (centre) at an event in Kerteh, Terengganu recently. She is currently on a voyage. --fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

On COVID-19 fatalities, the US reported the highest death cases with 1,042,678 cases.

According to a foreign news report, the US may be faced with a new COVID-19 strain BA.5, which was described by an expert as “the worst version of the virus that we’ve seen.”

It also cited the latest data from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, which showed that the BA.4 and BA.5 strains now accounted for the majority of new US COVID-19 cases, with the latter (BA.5) expected to be the dominant strain by early July.

Meanwhile, MOH’s COVIDNOW data as of 11.59 pm yesterday showed 28,116 cases (95.5 per cent) were quarantined at home out of 29,434 active COVID-19 cases reported.

A total of 26 cases (0.1 per cent) were at the COVID-19 Integrated Quarantine and Treatment Centre (PKRC); 1,249 cases (4.2 per cent) at hospitals; 18 cases (0.1 per cent) at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) without respiratory assistance (ABP) while 25 cases (0.1 per cent) at the ICU with ABP.

COVID-19 SCENARIO IN MALAYSIA

Flag-off ceremony of the deep-sea fishing tournament held in conjunction with the Labuan International Sea Challenge (LISC) 2022 at the Public Marina jetty recently. --fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Recovered cases:-

June 25 (2,539), June 26 (1,861), June 27 (1,944), June 28 (2,367), June 29 (1,633) and June 30 (2,145).

* cumulative recovered cases as of yesterday stood at 4,500,856.

 Active cases with probable infection:-

June 25 (28,010), June 26 (28,151), June 27 (28,093), June 28 (27,747), June 29 (28,714) and June 30 (29,434).

Breakdown of new daily cases (2,867 cases) :-

*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 - KL 906 (+0), Selangor 881 (+0), Negeri Sembilan 168 (+0), Sabah 153 (+1), Perak 143 (+0) and Penang 119 (+0).

Two-digit new daily cases - Melaka 93 (+2), Johor 78 (+1), Putrajaya 72 (+0), Sarawak 68 (+0), Kedah 63 (+0), Pahang 50 (+0), Terengganu 25 (+0), Labuan 17 (+0), Kelantan 17 (+0) and Perlis 10 (+0).

New Record cases, imported cases, local transmission:

June 25 – New cases 2,302; Cumulative cases 4,554,661; Imported cases 2;

June 26 – New cases 2,003; Cumulative cases 4.556,664; Imported cases 3;

June 27 – New cases 1,894; Cumulative cases 4,558,558; Imported cases 6;

June 28 – New cases 2,025; Cumulative cases 4,560,583; Imported cases 20;

June 29 – New cases 2,605; Cumulative cases 4,563,188; Imported cases 3;

June 30 – New cases 2,867; Cumulative cases 4,566,055; Imported cases 4.

Overall, a total of 7,020 clusters were detected by MOH since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the nation more than two years ago. As of yesterday, seven (7) clusters were still active.

New record cases and breakdown of clusters:-

June 25 – 1 (high risk 1); Jalan Camar Cluster (Seremban, Negeri Sembilan - 20 cases.

June 26 – No cluster;

June 27 – No cluster;

June 28 – No cluster;

June 29 – No cluster;

June 30 – 1 (education 1).

Seri Nanas Cluster (Hilir Perak, Perak) - 7 cases.

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.

 June 25 - 0 (BID 0), June 26 - 1 (BID 0), June 27 - 8 (BID 1), June 28 - 4 (BID 1), June 29 - 5 (BID 1) and June 30 - 2 (BID 0).

*Total fatalities as of yesterday stood at 35,765.

 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 552,610,002 (previous week at 548,226,324 cases) with 6,357,964 fatalities (6,349,418 previously). A total of 527,796,147 recovered cases were reported compared to 523,169,244 a week earlier.

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 Turkiye.

The breakdown of the top 10 nations (+ new record daily cases) is as follows:

US 89,360,080 (+85,976);

India 453,471,282 (+19,118);

Brazil 32,358,451 (+75,106);

France 31,083,859 (+133,346);

Germany 28,180,861 (+no information);

UK 22,720,345(+22,908);

Italy 18,523,111 (+83,274);

Russia 18,430,239 (+3,106);

South Korea 18,359,341 (+9,585);

Turkiye 15,123,331 (+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 the 12th spot - 10,746,470 (+839);

Indonesia in the 19th spot - 6,088,460 (+2,248);

Malaysia in the 25th spot - 4,566,055 (+2,867);

Thailand in the 26th spot - 4,522,915 (+2,695);

Philippines in the 36th spot - 3,704,407 (+1,309);

Singapore in the 52nd spot - 1,444,068 (+9,505);

Myanmar in the 82nd spot - 613,596 (+13);

Laos in the 111th spot - 210,292 (+14);

Brunei in the 123rd spot - 163,055 (+744) and

Cambodia in the 125th spot - 136,279 (+7).

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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