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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 27 to noon today.
In Malaysia, cases numbers have exceeded 4.78 million and globally, the virus has infected more than 608 million people and caused over 6.49 million deaths. Some 584 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 curtain falls on the month of August 2022 with the lowest new daily COVID-19 cases at 1,946 on Aug 29 while the highest was recorded on Aug 3 (5,330).
The last time the nation saw cases below 2,000 was on July 4 with 1,918 infections recorded.
Yesterday (Sept 1), 2356 cases were reported including five (5) imported cases.
New daily cases maintained their downtrend during this week compiled by Bernama (Aug 27 to Sept 1) with 13,468 cases compared to 15,904 cases from Aug 20 to Aug 25 and 20,832 cases (Aug 13 to Aug 18).
A sea of people with their Jalur Gemilang packed the Dataran Merdeka for Malaysia’s 65th National Day celebration. --fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Death cases for the week dropped to 34 cases as against 55 cases for the week Aug 20 to Aug 25. Cumulatively, the nation’s death cases from COVID-19 stood at 36,225.
In fact, World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a media briefing in Geneva, Switzerland last Wednesday said death cases globally are declining.
However, he warned that with colder weather approaching in the northern hemisphere, an increase in hospitalisations and deaths can be expected in the coming months.
He added that “Sub-variants of Omicron are more transmissible than their predecessors, and the risk of even more transmissible and more dangerous variants remains.”
According to COVIDNOW data from the Ministry of Health (MOH) as of 11.59 pm yesterday, six states recorded three digit cases namely Selangor (775), Kuala Lumpur (479), Sabah (227), Perak (175), Negeri Sembilan (127) and Penang (104).
States with two digit numbers are Melaka (97), Johor (86), Sarawak (62), Pahang (59), Kelantan (49), Kedah (42), Terengganu (28), Putrajaya (25), Labuan (11) dan Perlis (10),
Young “firemen” stole the limelight at the National Day 2022 celebration. --fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Below is a breakdown of new daily COVID-19 cases during the week compiled by Bernama from Aug 27 to Sept 1:-
Aug 27 (2,491), Aug 28 (2,191), Aug 29 (1,946), Aug 30 (2,144), Aug 31 (2,340) and Sept 1 (2,356).
New daily COVID-19 cases during the week compiled by Bernama from Aug 20 to Aug 26 are as follows:-
Aug 20 (2,798), Aug 21 (2,464), Aug 22 (2,078), 23 Ogos (2,722), Aug 24 (2,636), Aug 25 (3,206) and Aug 26 (3,118).
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 27 (1,971), Aug 28 (1,448), Aug 29 (1,410), Aug 30 (2,900), Aug 31 (2,154) and Sept 1 (2,044).
For the week under review, MOH has reported only two (2) new clusters and both were related to the high risk group in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan namely Jalan Han Hui Foong 2 (10 cases) Cluster and Jalan Tampin Lama 2 (23 cases) Cluster.
Overall, 7,068 clusters were detected since the COVID-19 pandemic struck the nation more than two years ago and as of Sept 1, a total of 26 clusters were still active.
A convoy of residents of Klebang Putra 1 with their Jalur Gemilang celebrate the National Day by taking a round trip at the housing area in Ipoh. --fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
A total of 1,875 recovered COVID-19 cases were reported as of 11.59 pm on Sept 1, bringing the total cumulative figure to 717,292 cases.
COVIDNOW data from MOH as of 11.59 pm yesterday showed 30,084 cases (95.6 per cent) were quarantined at home out of 31,463 active cases.
A total of 20 cases (0.1 per cent) were at the COVID-19 Integrated Quarantine and Treatment Centre (PKRC); 1,285 cases (4.1 per cent) at hospitals; 28 cases (0.1 per cent) at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) without respiratory assistance (ABP) and 46 cases (0.1 per cent) at the ICU with ABP.
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, 784,980 cases, Malaysia now stood at the 26th spot in the list of 228 countries/territories hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ahead of Malaysia are Austria (4,912,972) and Ukraine (5,044,941).
According to Worldometer, of the list of 228 nations, Japan continued to record the highest new daily cases (167,340) followed by South Korea (81,499) and the United States (65,815).
On COVID-19 fatalities, the US reported the highest number of COVID-19 fatalities with 1,072,125 cases.
COVID-19 SCENARIO IN MALAYSIA
Visitors taking selfies to capture the moments at the Royal Floria Putrajaya 2022, an annual flower and garden festival at Anjung Floria. --fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Recovered cases:-
Aug 27 (3,715), Aug 28 (3,796), Aug 29 (3,271), Aug 30 (2,549), Aug 31 (2,502) and Sept 1 (1,875).
* Cumulative recovered cases as of Sept 1 stood at 4,717,292.
Active cases with probable infections:-
Aug 27 (34,508), Aug 28 (32,901), Aug 29 (31,658), 30 Ogos (31,159), Aug 31 (30,991) and Sept 1 (31,463).
The breakdown of new daily cases (2,356) :-
*state-by-state as of 11.59 pm yesterday
*(imported cases)
Latest Status of COVID-19 in Malaysia. New Cases by States. Source: MoH
Three digits - Selangor 775 (+0), Kuala Lumpur 479 (+0), Sabah 227 (+0), Perak 175 (+0), Negeri Sembilan 126 (+1) and Penang 104 (+0).
Two digits - Melaka 96 (+1), Johor 85 (+1), Sarawak 60 (+2), Pahang 59 (+0), Kelantan 49 (+0), Kedah 42 (+0), Terengganu 28 (+0), Putrajaya 25 (+0), Labuan 11 (+0) and Perlis 10 (+0).
New record cases, imported cases, local transmission:
Aug 27 - New cases 2,491; Cumulative cases 4,774,003; Imported cases 0
Aug 28 - New cases 2,191; Cumulative cases 4,776,194; Imported cases 1
Aug 29 - New cases 1,946; Cumulative cases 4,778,140; Imported cases 1
Aug 30 - New cases 2,144; Cumulative cases 4,780,284; Imported cases 3
Aug 31 - New cases 2,340; Cumulative cases 4,782,624; Imported cases 2
Sept 1 - New cases 2,356; Cumulative cases 4,784,980; Imported cases 5
Breakdown of new clusters is as follows:-
Aug 27 - no cluster
Aug 28 - no cluster
Aug 29 - 1 (high risk group 1)
• Jalan Tampin Lama 2 (Seremban, Negeri Sembilan) Cluster- 23 cases
Aug 30 - 1 (high risk group 1)
• Jalan Han Hui Foong 2 (Seremban, Negeri Sembilan) Cluster - 10 cases
31 Ogos - no cluster
1 Sept - no cluster
Overall, MOH has detected 7,068 clusters since the COVID-19 struck the nation more than two years ago. As of yesterday (Sept 1), 26 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 27 - 5 (BID 1), Aug 28 - 2 (BID 1), Aug 29 - 8 (BID 0), Aug 30 - 4 (BID 1), Aug 31 - 6 (BID 1) and Sept 1 - 9 (BID 3) .
* As of yesterday, Malaysia’s COVID-19 death toll stood at 36,225 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 608,700,634 cases compared to 604,892,165 cases during the previous week with 6,498,483 deaths (previously at 6,485,604). A total of 584,939,592 recovered cases were reported from 579,773,235 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 96,465,126 (+65,815)
India 44,440,267 (+3,928)
France 34,547,847 (+18,646)
Brazil 34,492,171 (+19,492)
Germany 32,218,483 (+33,930)
UK 23,521,792 (+no information)
South Korea 23,327,897 (+81,499)
Italy 21,888,255 (+20,498)
Russia 19,578,730 (+49,761)
Japan 18,939,344 (+167,340)
Below is a breakdown of cumulative COVID-19 cases and (+new daily cases) among Southeast Asian nations, including Malaysia:-
Vietnam in the 13th spot - 11,414,359 (+2,680)
Indonesia in the 19th spot - 6,362,902 (+4,094)
Malaysia in the 26th spot - 4,784,980 (+2,356)
Thailand in the 29th spot - 4,652,923 (+2,004)
Philippines in the 38th spot - 3,883,957 (+3,767)
Singapore in the 46th spot - 1,841,288 (+2,044)
Myanmar in the 84th spot - 615,315 (+94)
Brunei in the 111th spot - 220,245 (+no information)
Laos in the 113th spot - 214,169 (+130)
Cambodia in the 125th spot - 137,629 (+9)
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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
