Covid-19: 34 of 50 new cases today linked to new KL cluster

KUALA LUMPUR (May 21): Malaysia’s Covid-19 new cases jumped to 50 today, of which 47 were local transmissions, while three were imported cases, according to the Ministry of Health (MoH).

Of the 47 cases of local transmissions, 41 cases involved migrant workers with 34 linked to a new cluster at the Bukit Jalil immigration detention depot here, said health director-general (DG) Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah in his daily statement.

The migrant workers were already in detention before the enforcement of the movement control order (MCO) starting on March 18, according to Noor Hisham.

In total, there were 35 patients from this cluster, including the first case which was confirmed yesterday. They were from Myanmar (17), India (15), Sri Lanka (one), Bangladesh (one) and Egypt (one).

To date, 645 samples had been taken from this cluster, of which 400 tested negative, while 210 were awaiting results.

Noor Hisham said the source of infection was still being investigated, and in the meantime, preventive steps — including disinfection activities, educating migrant workers on personal hygiene, and health and social distancing — had been taken.

The DG said the ministry will continue to take a targeted approach towards the disease.

The ministry has also provided health services to all detention centres on a regular basis, with services including treatment of mild illnesses, early emergency treatment as well as health checks for expecting mothers, babies and children, including vaccination based on the national immunisation schedule.

Overall, total infections in the country rose to 7,059.

Meanwhile, the number of active cases dropped further to 1,149, from 1,189 reported yesterday, the lowest since March 27.

Ten patients were being treated in the intensive care unit (ICU), with seven needing breathing assistance, said Noor Hisham.

The MoH also reported that 90 patients were discharged today, bringing the number of recoveries to 5,796.

Hence, the recovery rate of the country stood at 82.1% of overall cases.

No new death case was recorded, keeping the death toll from the virus at 114 or 1.61% of overall cases.

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