Covid-19: 2 deaths in 2 days, new cluster detected

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia recorded its second Covid-19 death in as many days yesterday, bringing the total coronavirus death toll in the country to 127.

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the latest victim was a 62-year-old Malaysian man with a history of diabetes and hypertension.

“He was one of the positive cases reported on Aug 13 from the Tawar cluster. He had experienced coughing since Aug 11 and was subsequently admitted to the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Kedah on Aug 13 after testing positive for Covid-19.

“His health deteriorated, which led him to require ventilator support from Aug 19. He was pronounced dead on Aug 30 at 10.35pm,” said Dr Noor Hisham in a statement, adding that the ministry extended its condolences to the deceased’s family.

He said the ministry also recorded six new cases of Covid-19 as of noon today, bringing the tally of infections in the country to 9,340.

The new cases, he said, brought the total number of active cases to 159.

Dr Noor Hisham also announced the discovery of a new Covid-19 cluster, dubbed the Bunga Cluster.

He said the cluster, which was deemed an isolated one, involved crew members of a vessel docked in Port Dickson, Negri Sembilan. The vessel, he said, has travel history to Singapore.

Four of the new cases are imported, with two being Malaysians while the rest are foreigners.

The imported cases were registered in Selangor, involving returnees from Singapore (from the new cluster).

He said a total of 34 crew members on board the ship were screened for Covid-19 on Aug 28. Four tested positive for Covid-19, six tested negative and 24 are still awaiting their test results.

He said the positive cases were asymptomatic and were initially placed under quarantine at a hotel in Selangor. After testing positive, they were subsequently sent to the Sungai Buloh Hospital to be warded.

However, Dr Noor Hisham noted that the cases pose little risk of infections within the community as they were from an isolated cluster on a vessel without any contact with others.

He said active case detection and screening for close contacts were being carried out, with preventive and disease control measures such as disinfection already carried out at the vessel.

The cause of the infection, he said, was still being investigated.

Meanwhile, the two local transmissions were Malaysians registered in Kedah from the Tawar and Telaga clusters.

“Six Covid-19 patients had recovered and were discharged today, raising the cumulative number of recovered cases to 9,054 (96.94 per cent).

“There are currently six Covid-19 cases being treated in the intensive care units, with four on ventilator support.”

Source: NST