COVID-19: Daily New Cases Under 5,000, Eight New Clusters Found

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) – There was a slight dip in the number of new COVID-19 cases reported in the last six days (July 23-28). A total of 24,024 cases were recorded this week, compared with 26,237 cases during the same period last week (July 16-21).

Yesterday, 3,926 new infections were reported, including 23 imported cases (21 of which were in Johor), pushing up the nation’s active caseload to 47,286, with 96.6 percent of the cases undergoing home quarantine.

Malaysia’s cumulative COVID-19 figure now stood at 4,668,139.

A total of 44 fatalities due to COVID-19 were reported during the week under review, bringing the nation’s death toll to 35,946.

According to the Ministry of Health’s COVIDNOW data as of 11.59 pm yesterday, Selangor accounted for the highest number of new cases yesterday at 1,167 and was the only state to record a four-digit figure.

States that registered three-digit figures yesterday were Kuala Lumpur 939, Perak 331, Sabah 249, Negeri Sembilan 244, Penang 223, Melaka 151, Kedah 142 and Johor 108

Two-digit numbers were reported by Putrajaya 92, Sarawak 80, Pahang 71, Kelantan 61, Terengganu 32, Labuan 24 and Perlis 12.

Following is the daily breakdown of the number of new COVID-19 cases reported nationwide during the week under review (July 23-28):

July 23 (4,816), July 24 (2,720), July 25 (3,300), July 26 (4,759), July 27 (4,503) and July 28 (3,926).

Following is the daily breakdown of the number of new COVID-19 cases reported nationwide in the preceding week (July 16-21):

July 16 (5,047), July 17 (3,936), July 18 (3,080), July 19 (3,902), July 20 (5,685) and July 21 (4,587).

Based on Worldometer data, Singapore’s new case figures continued to remain high and even surpassed the 10,000 mark this week as shown below:

July 23 (7,889), July 24 (6,175), July 25 (5,551), July 26 (12,419), July 27 (8,763) and July 28 (8,565).

Meanwhile in Malaysia, 3,542 cases of recovery were reported up to 11.59 pm yesterday, bringing the total number of recovered cases to 4,584,907.

During the week under review, MOH detected eight new clusters: July 24 one (education); July 25 one (high-risk group; July 26 four (two education and two high-risk groups); and July 28 two (one education and one high-risk group). 

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, a total of 7,038 clusters had emerged in Malaysia. As of now, 20 clusters are still active.

With its total cases at 4,668,139, Malaysia now stood at the 26th spot in the list of 228 countries and territories affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Just ahead of Malaysia is Austria with 4,724,622 cases and North Korea (4,772,810).

According to the latest Worldometer data, Japan reported the highest number of new infections yesterday at 207,236, followed by the United States (92,955) and South Korea (88,296).

According to foreign reports, Japan is now facing a seventh COVID-19 wave triggered by the highly transmissible BA 5 omicron subvariant.

As of now, the United States has the highest COVID-19 death toll in the world at 1,054,422.

Meanwhile, MOH’s COVIDNOW data as of 11.59 pm yesterday showed that out of the 47,286 active cases in Malaysia, 45,657 (96.6 percent) were being quarantined at home.

Thirty cases (0.1 percent) were placed at COVID-19 quarantine and treatment centres while 1,539 cases (3.3 percent) required hospital admissions. Twenty-five cases (0.1 percent) were in the intensive care unit (ICU) but did not require breathing assistance while another 35 cases in the ICU required respiratory aid. 

For the record, COVID-19 infections are classified into five categories: Category 1 asymptomatic; Category 2 mild symptoms; Category 3 symptomatic with lung inflammation; Category 4 symptomatic with lung inflammation and requiring oxygen; and Category 5 critical symptoms and requiring ICU admission.

 

Recovered cases: July 23 (3,928), July 24 (4,012), July 25 (5,277), July 26 (4,806), July 27 (3,847) and July 28 (3,542). 

Active cases: July 23 (49,547), July 24 (48,252), July 25 (46,316), July 26 (46,260), July 27 (46,906) and July 28 (47,286). 

 

State-by-state breakdown of new cases reported yesterday (3,926): 

Selangor 1,167, Kuala Lumpur 939, Perak 330 (plus one imported case), Sabah 249, Negeri Sembilan 244, Penang, Melaka 151, Kedah 142, Johor 87 (plus 21 imported cases), Putrajaya 92, Sarawak 79 (plus one imported case), Pahang 71, Kelantan 61, Terengganu 32, Labuan 24 and Perlis 12.

 

July 23 – new cases 4,816; cumulative cases 4,648,931; imported cases two;

July 24 – new cases 2,720; cumulative cases 4,651,651; imported cases five ;

July 25 – new cases 3,300; cumulative cases 4,654,951; imported cases two;

July 26 – new cases 4,759; cumulative cases 4,659,710; imported cases three;

July 27 – new cases 4,503; cumulative cases 4,664,213; imported cases six; and

July 28 – new cases 3,926; cumulative cases 4,668,139; imported cases 23.

 

July 24 – one (Batu 4 Kuala Rui 2 education cluster in Hulu Perak, Perak involving 15 cases); July 25 – one (Lorong Batu Lanchang high-risk group cluster in Timur Laut, Penang involving 31 cases);

July 26 – four (two high-risk groups and two education) comprising Lorong Impian Enam 2 cluster in Seberang Perai Timur, Penang, with 25 cases; Jalan Panchor Jelutong cluster in Timur Laut, Penang, with 15 cases; Kampung Gatal Kuala Krai 2 cluster in Kuala Krai, Kelantan with five cases; and Jalan Istana Lama 2 cluster in Kuala Langat, Selangor, with 29 cases;

July 28 – two (one high-risk group and one education) comprising Jalan Padang Golf 4 cluster in Hulu Selangor, Selangor, with 11 cases and Jalan Raja Musa Mahadi cluster in Kinta Perak Tengah, Perak, with 11 cases.

 

July 23 – nine (brought-in-dead or BID one), July 24 – three (BID two), July 25 – nine (BID three), July 26 – nine (BID three), July 27 – 10 (BID four) and July 28 – four (BID one). 

(BID refers to deaths that occur outside health facilities and the bodies concerned test positive for COVID-19 after RT-PCR tests are conducted by the hospital’s Forensics Department.)

 

A total of 579,439,686 COVID-19 cases (573,650,478 last Friday) have been reported worldwide since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. The death toll now stands at 6,414,253 (6,400,978 last Friday). A total of 549,415,712 cases have recovered (543,457,188 last Friday).

The nations occupying the 10 top spots in the list of 228 countries/territories affected by the COVID-19 pandemic are the United States, India, Brazil, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, South Korea, Russia and Turkiye. 

The breakdown of total cases (+ latest new daily cases) is as follows:

United States 92,917,397 (+92,955);

India 43,976,311 (+16,990);

Brazil 33,752,376 (+45,307);

France 33,741,251 (+51,594);

Germany 30,702,511 (+no information);

United Kingdom 23,304,479 (+no information);

Italy 20,898,059 (+60,381);

South Korea 19,535,242 (+88,296);

Russia 18,565,551 (+11,515);

Turkiye 15,524,071 (+no information).

 

In Southeast Asia – besides Malaysia – Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Brunei are among the 127 countries that have reported over 100,000 COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic.

The breakdown (+ latest new daily cases) is as follows:

Vietnam at 13th spot – 10,774,679 (+1,697);

Indonesia at 20th spot – 6,123,753 (+3,584);

Malaysia at 26th spot – 4,668,139 (+3,926);

Thailand at 27th spot – 4,584,070 (+1,902);

Philippines at 38th spot – 3,764,346 (+3,858);

Singapore at 48th spot – 1,694,454 (+8,565);

Myanmar at 83rd spot – 614,009 (+18);

Laos at 112th spot – 211,052 (+89);

Brunei at 113th spot – 203,185 (+1,328);

Cambodia at 125th spot – 136,680 (+29).

 

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COVID-19 BACKGROUND

-- The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) 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 breached the one million mark on July 25, 2021, with 1,013,438 cases. The first time daily cases surpassed the five-digit level was on July 13, 2021, 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 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 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 entered the transition to endemic phase of COVID-19 as an exit strategy that allowed 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 included the lifting of the requirement for check-ins on the MySejahtera mobile application effective May 1. 

 

Translated by Rema Nambiar

BERNAMA