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span style="font-size:14px">By Melati Mohd Ariff
This is Bernama’s Weekly Roundup on COVID-19 and related matters in Malaysia and globally from Aug 13 to noon today.
In Malaysia, case numbers have exceeded 4.74 million and globally, the virus has infected more than 598 million people and caused over 6.46 million deaths. Some 572 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) – The Ministry of Health (MOH) has detected nine new clusters for the week compiled by Bernama from Aug 13 to Aug 18 and five (5) of them are education clusters.
The education clusters are found in Selangor, Kelantan, Negeri Sembilan, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.
The education clusters reported include Jalan Rektor Nilai 2 Cluster in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan with 38 positive cases to date.
Three other new clusters are high- risk group cluster (Johor, Perak and Penang) and (1) detention centre cluster (Perak).
Overall, a total of 7,060 clusters were detected since the COVID-19 pandemic struck the nation more than two years ago and as of yesterday, 32 clusters were still active.
Tabika Kemas children from the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary constituency celebrate the National Month by flying the Jalur Gemilang at Taman Awam Batu Burok. --fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
For the week under review, total new daily COVID-19 cases declined to 20,832 cases compared to 23,085 cases from Aug 6 to Aug 11.
During this week, total new daily cases remained below the 5,000 level with the highest at 4,334 cases on Aug 13.
Yesterday (Aug 18), a total of 4,071 new daily cases were reported including two (2) imported cases. A total of seven (7) death cases among COVID-19 patients were reported, bringing total deaths this week to 54 cases. To date, cumulative death cases due to COVID-19 stood at 36,124 cases.
According to MOH COVIDNOW data as of 11.59 pm yesterday, out of 4,071 cases reported, only Selangor reported four-digit cases (1,456 cases).
Nine states/territories reported three digit figures namely Kuala Lumpur (728), Negeri Sembilan (320), Sabah (281), Perak (275), Sarawak (182), Melaka (152), Penang (143), Johor (117) and Pahang (100).
Two digit numbers were reported in Kedah (91), Kelantan (77), Putrajaya (74), Terengganu (59) and Labuan (10). Perlis reported six (6) cases.
Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Gelugor students join hands to hang the Jalur Gemilang at every location to express their patriotism and love for the nation. --fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Below are new daily COVID-19 cases during the week compiled by Bernama from Aug 13 to Aug 18:-
Aug 13 (4,334), Aug 14 (3,045), Aug 15 (2,437), Aug 16 (3,429), Aug 17 (3,516) and Aug 18 (4,071).
New daily COVID-19 cases during the week compiled by Bernama from Aug 6 to Aug 12:-
Aug 6 (4,684), Aug 6 (2,728), Aug 8 (2,863), Aug 9 (3,083), Aug 10 (4,896), Aug 11 (4,831) and Aug 12 (3,943).
Singapore continues to record high new daily COVID-19 cases during the week based on Worldometer data below:-
Aug 13 (4,403), Aug 14 (3,023), Aug 15 (2,665), Aug 16 (5,202), Aug 17 (3,762) and Aug 18 (3,553).
Students from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sultan Ismail, Kemaman in jubilation after receiving excellent results in their Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) exam. --fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Meanwhile, a total of 3,289 COVID-19 recovered cases were reported as of 11.59 pm yesterday, bringing the cumulative figure to 4,670,400.
MOH COVIDNOW data as of 11.59 pm yesterday showed a total of 40,826 cases (96.1 per cent) were quarantined at home out of 42,476 active cases reported.
A total of 27 cases (0.1 per cent) were at the COVID-19 Integrated Quarantine and Treatment Centre (PKRC); 1,542 cases (3.6 per cent) at hospitals; 36 cases (0.1 per cent) at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) without respiratory assistance (ABP) and 45 cases (0.1 per cent) at the ICU with ABP.
For the record, there are five categories of COVID-19 infections, namely:
Category 1 is for patients with no symptoms; Category 2 is for patients with mild symptoms; Category 3 is for patients with pneumonia; Category 4 is for patients who require supplemental oxygen; and Category 5 is for the critically ill and need to be on ventilator support at the ICU.
With a cumulative figure of 4,749,000 cases, Malaysia now stood at the 27th spot in the list of 228 countries/territories hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ahead of Malaysia are the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) with 4,772,813 cases and Austria (4,845,882).
According to Worldometer, of the list of 228 nations, Japan, which is facing its 7th COVID-19 wave, recorded the highest new daily cases at 208,483 followed by South Korea (178,480) and the United States (67,402).
The US reported the highest number of COVID-19 fatalities with 1,064,771 cases.
COVID-19 SCENARIO IN MALAYSIA
Students of Institut Pendidikan Guru Kampus Ilmu Khas (IPGKIK) in jovial mood as they wave the Jalur Gemilang at the official launch of Program Kembara Merdeka Keluarga Malaysia (KMKM) 2022, Federal Territory Kuala Lumpur level at the institute. --fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Recovered cases:-
Aug 13 (5,082), Aug 14 (4,226), Aug 15 (3,658), Aug 16 (4,882), Aug 17 (2,541) and Aug 18 (3,289).
*cumulative cases as of Aug 18 stood at 4,670,400.
Active cases with probable infection:-
Aug 13 (44,617), Aug 14 (43,431), Aug 15 (42,203), Aug 16 (40,741), Aug 17 (41,701) and Aug 18 (42,476).
Breakdown of new daily cases (4,071 cases) :-
*state-by-state as of 11.59 pm on Aug 18
*(+imported cases)
Latest Status of COVID-19 in Malaysia. New Cases by States. Source: MoH
Four digit - Selangor 1,456 (+0).
Three digit - Kuala Lumpur 728 (+0), Negeri Sembilan 320 (+0), Sabah 281 (+0), Perak 275 (+0), Sarawak 181 (+1), Melaka 152 (+0), Penang 143 (+0), Johor 117 (+0) and Pahang 100 (+0).
Two digit - Kedah 90 (+1), Kelantan 77 (+0), Putrajaya 74 (+0), Terengganu 59 (+0) and Labuan 10 (+0).
One digit - Perlis 6 (+0).
New record cases, imported cases, local transmission:-
Aug 13 - New cases 4,334; Cumulative cases 4,732,502; Imported cases 6
Aug 14 - New cases 3,045; Cumulative cases 4,735,547; Imported cases 5
Aug 15 - Imported cases 2,437; Cumulative cases 4,737,984; Imported cases 6
Aug 16 - New cases 3,429; Cumulative cases 4,741.413; Imported cases 6
Aug 17 - New cases 3,516; Cumulative cases 4,744,929; Imported casest 3
Aug 18 - New cases 4,071; Cumulative cases 4,749,000; Imported cases 2
Breakdown of new clusters is as below:-
Aug 13 - no cluster
Aug 14 - 1 (high risk group 1)
• Solok Bunga Pudak (Timur Laut, Penang) Cluster - 14 cases
Aug 15 - 2 (education 2)
• Jalan Masjid Kemahang (Tanah Merah, Kelantan) Cluster - 10 cases
• Dua Jalan Panchang Bedena (Sabak Bernam, Selangor) Cluster - 24
Aug 16 - 4 (high risk group 2, education 1, detention centre 1)
• Jalan Joget Lapan – high risk group (Johor Bahru, Johor) Cluster - 20 cases
• Jalan Lapangan Siber Satu – high risk group (Kinta, Perak) Cluster - 12 cases
• Jalan Rektor Nilai 2 - education (Seremban, Negeri Sembilan) Cluster - 38 cases
• Tembok Bendera 3 – detention centre (Kinta, Perak) Cluster - 5
Aug 17 - 1 (education 1)
• Jalan Pantai Endah 2 (Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur) Cluster - 14 cases
Aug 18 - 1 (education 1)
• Pekan Dengkil (Sepang, Hulu Langat, Putrajaya) Cluster - 8 cases
Overall, MOH has detected 7,060 clusters since the COVID-19 struck the nation more than two years ago. As of yesterday (Aug 18), 32 clusters were still active.
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.
Aug 13 - 10 (BID 1), Aug 14 - 5 (BID 0), Aug 15 - 8 (BID 2), Aug 16 - 9 (BID 1), Aug 17 - 15 (BID 4) and Aug 18 - 7 (BID 1).
*As of yesterday, Malaysia’s COVID-19 death toll stood at 36,124 cases.
GLOBAL COVID-19 STATISTICS
Current Worldwide Statistics on COVID-19 and COVID-19 Case Summary in Malaysia. worldometers.info/coronavirus
According to Worldometer, global COVID-19 cases to date stood at 598,839,607 compared to 594,047,735 during the previous week with 6,466,367 fatalities (6,451,778 previously). A total of 572,788,018 recovered cases were reported as against 566,183,558 previously.
Some 228 countries/territories are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and those in the top 10 of the list are the US, India, France, Brazil, Germany, the United Kingdom (UK), Italy, South Korea, Russia and Turkiye.
The breakdown of the top 10 nations (+ new record daily cases) is as follows:-
US 95,184,498 (+67,402)
India 44,311,584 (+12,720)
France 34,299,686 (+23,605)
Brazil 34,245,374 (+22,167)
Germany 31,725,160 (+no information)
UK 23,460,787 (+no information)
Italy 21,581,917 (+27,291)
Russia 19,000,055 (+35,809)
Turkiye 16,671,848(+no information)
In Southeast Asia, besides Malaysia, other countries that have joined the list of 127 countries with over 100,000 COVID-19 cases are Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Brunei.
Vietnam in the 13th spot - 11,376,571 (+3,295)
Indonesia in the 19th spot - 6,301,523 (+4,039)
Malaysia in the 27th spot - 4,749,000 (+4,071)
Thailand in the 29th spot - 4,628,200 (+2,143)
Philippines in the 38th spot - 3,844,708 (+3,758)
Singapore in the 47th spot - 1,809,251 (+3,553)
Myanmar in the 84th spot - 614,541 (+31)
Brunei in the 112th spot- 215,283 (+no information)
Laos in the 113th spot - 212,920 (+159)
Cambodia in the 12th spot 125 - 137,349 (+23)
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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
