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strong>By Melati Mohd Ariff
This is Bernama’s weekly roundup on COVID-19 and related matters in Malaysia and globally from Aug 20 to noon today.
In Malaysia, cases numbers have exceeded 4.76 million and globally, the virus has infected more than 604 million people and caused over 6.4 million deaths. Some 578 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 in the country during the six-day week compiled by Bernama (Aug 20 to Aug 25) declined to 15,904 cases compared to 20,832 cases for the same period (Aug 13 to Aug 18).
COVIDNOW data from the Ministry of Health (MOH) showed new daily cases stayed below 3,000 from Aug 20 to Aug 24 before increasing to 3,206 cases yesterday.
The latest development is seen as positive as against 3,000 - 5,000 level reported during the first few weeks of this month, with the highest figure at 5,000 cases on Aug 3.
Of 3,206 cases yesterday, four (4) were imported. Eight (8) more death cases among COVID-19 patients were reported, bringing the total deaths for this week to 55 cases. Cumulatively, COVID-19 deaths to date stood at 36,185.
Several residents dressed in their traditional attire relive Merdeka memories while cycling during the National Month celebration ahead of the 65th National Day in Sungai Dua, Butterworth. --fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
According to MOH’s COVIDNOW data as at 11 pm yesterday, out of 3,206 cases, only Selangor registered four digit figures (1,092 cases).
Eight (8) states recorded three digit numbers namely Kuala Lumpur (583), Sabah (297), Perak (236), Negeri Sembilan (186), Sarawak (119), Melaka (114), Kedah (110) and Johor (104).
Six (6) other states reported two digit figures namely Penang (93), Kelantan (87), Pahang (62), Putrajaya (58), Terengganu (44) and Perlis (12).
Labuan recorded one digit figure (9).
Several workers carrying out mosquito fogging in the surrounding areas in preparation for the National Day 2022 event at Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur. --fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
New daily COVID-19 cases during the week compiled by Bernama from Aug 20 to Aug 25 are as below:-
Aug 20 (2,798), Aug 21 (2,464), Aug 22 (2,078), Aug 23 (2,722), Aug 24 (2,636) and Aug 25 (3,206).
New daily COVID-19 cases during the week compiledby Bernama from Aug 13 to Aug 19 are:-
Aug 13 (4,334), Aug 14 (3,045), Aug 15 (2,437), Aug 16 (3,429), Aug 17 (3,516), Aug 18 (4,071) and Aug 19 (3,490).
Singapore continues to report lower new daily COVID-19 cases compared to five digit numbers recorded the previous week, with the breakdown as below:-
Aug 20 (2.660), Aug 21 (1,951), Aug 22 (1,694), Aug 23 (3,627), Aug 24 (2,645) and Aug 25 (2,397).
For this week, MOH reported only three (3) newclusters namely one (1) high risk group cluster on Aug 22 (Jalan Besar Tanjung 3 in Kinta, Perak (26 cases) and two (2) workplace clusters on Aug 20 in Kuala Langat, Selangor (Jalan Seri Cheeding Cluster/11 cases and Industry Persiaran Graphite Cluster/14 cases).
Overall, 7,066 clusters were detected since the COVID-19 pandemic struck the nation more than two years ago and as of Aug 25, a total of 33 clusters were still active.
A total of 2,180 recovered COVID-19 cases were reported as of 11.59 pm yesterday, bringing the total cumulative figure to 4,696,221 cases.
MOH’s COVID-19 data as of 11.59 pm yesterday showed 34,626 cases (96.2 per cent) were quarantined at home out of 35,988 active cases.
A total of 22 cases (0.1 per cent) were at the COVID-19 Integrated Quarantine and Treatment Centre (PKRC); 1,271 cases (3.5 per cent) at hospitals; 27 cases (0.1 per cent) at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) without respiratory assistance (ABP) and 42 cases (0.1 per cent) at the ICU with ABP.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob performing the Isyak prayers at the Majlis Munajat Keluarga Malaysia, Masjid Putra, Putrajaya.
--fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
For the record, there are five categories of COVID-19 infections:-
According to MOH, 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 4,768,394 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 (4,881,412).
According to Worldometer, of the list of 228 nations, Japan, which is facing its seventh wave of COVID-19, recorded the highest new daily cases at 237,410 followed by South Korea (113,281) and the United States (59,719).
On COVID-19 fatalities, the US reported the highest number of COVID-19 fatalities with 1,068,111 cases.
COVID-19 SCENARIO IN MALAYSIA
Recovered cases:-
Aug 20 (4,669), Aug 21 (4,427), Aug 22 (3,290), Aug 23 (4,856), Aug 24 (3,206) and Aug 25 (2,180).
*Cumulative recovered cases as of Aug 25 stood at 4,696,221.
Active cases with probable infections:-
Aug 20 (40,890), Aug 21 (38,918), Aug 22 (37,696), Aug 23 (35,551), Aug 24 (34,970) and Aug 25 (35,988).
The breakdown of new daily cases (3,206):-
*state-by-state as of 11:59 pm yesterday
*(imported cases)
Latest Status of COVID-19 in Malaysia. New Cases by States. Source: MOH
Four digits - Selangor 1,092 (+0)
Three digits - Kuala Lumpur 583 (+0), Sabah 297 (+0), Perak 235 (+1), Negeri Sembilan 186 (+0),
Sarawak 119 (+0), Melaka 113 (+1), Kedah 110 (+0) and Johor 102 (+2)
Two digits - Penang 93 (+0), Kelantan 87 (+0), Pahang 62 (+0), Putrajaya 58 (+0), Terengganu 44 (+0) and Perlis 12 (+0).
One digit - Labuan 9 (+0)
New record cases, imported cases, local transmission:
Aug 20 - New cases 2,798; Cumulative cases 4,755,288; Imported cases 5
Aug 21 - New cases 2,464; Cumulative cases 4,757,752; Imported cases 16
Aug 22 - New cases 2,078; Cumulative cases 4,759,830; Imported cases 12
Aug 23 - New cases 2,722; Cumulative cases 4,762,552; Imported cases 5
Aug 24 - New cases 2,636; Cumulative cases 4,765,188; Imported cases 5
Aug 25 - New cases 3,206; Cumulative cases 4,768,394; Imported cases 4
Breakdown of new clusters is as follows:-
Aug 20 - 2 (workplace)
• Jalan Seri Cheeding Cluster (Kuala Langat, Selangor) - 11 cases
• Industri Persiaran Graphite Cluster (Kuala Langat, Selangor) - 14 cases
Aug 21 - no cluster
Aug 22 - 1 (high risk group)
• Jalan Besar Tanjung 3 Cluster (Kinta, Perak) - 26 cases
Aug 23 - no cluster
Aug 24 - no cluster
Aug 25 - no cluster
Overall, MOH has detected 7,066 clusters since the COVID-19 struck the nation more than two years ago. As of yesterday (Aug 25), 33 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 20 - 6 (BID 1), Aug 21 - 9 (BID 0 ), Aug 22 - 10 (BID 3 ), Aug 23 - 11 (BID 3 ), Aug 24 - 11 (BID 5) and Aug 25 - 8 (BID 1).
*As of yesterday, Malaysia’s COVID-19 death toll stood at 36,185 cases.
GLOBAL COVID-19 STATISTICS
Current Worldwide Statistics on COVID-19 and COVID-19 Case Summary in Malaysia. worldometers.info/coronavirus
According to Worldometer, COVID-19 cases globally to date stood at 604,121,644 cases compared to 599,698,375 cases during the previous week with 6,482,764 deaths (previously at 6,469,373). A total of 578,950,885 recovered cases were reported from 573,708,279 cases previously.
Some 228 countries 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 95,844,677 (+59,719)
India 44,386,836 (+7,916)
France 34,428,738 (+19,837)
Brazil 34,350,639 (+21,039)
Germany 32,008,122 (+37,343)
UK 23,492,875 (+no information)
South Korea 22,701,921 (+113,281)
Italy 21,745,065 (+23,435)
Russia 19,265,521 (+43,919)
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 - 11,396,205 (+3,342)
Indonesia in the 19th spot - 6,334,357 (+5,214)
Malaysia in the 27th spot - 4,768,394 (+3,206)
Thailand in the 29th spot - 4,641,263 (+2,002)
Philippines in the 38th spot - 3,867,071 (+3,126)
Singapore in the 47th spot - 1,827,229 (+2,397)
Myanmar in the 84th spot - 614,573 (+no information)
Brunei in the 112th spot - 220,245 (+no information)
Laos in the 113th spot - 213,591 (+89)
Cambodia in the 125th spot - 137,497 (+15)
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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
