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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 Sept 3 to noon today.
In Malaysia, cases numbers have exceeded 4.79 million and globally, the virus has infected more than 612 million people and caused over 6.51 million deaths. Some 590 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 declined to only 12,355 cases during the week compiled by Bernama (Sept 3 to Sept 8) from 13,468 for the same period (Aug 27 to Sept 1).
While August saw the lowest new daily cases at 1,946 on Aug 29, the lowest for September to date was reported on Sept 5 with 1,486 cases.
Yesterday (Sept 8), a total of 2,226 new daily COVID-19 cases were registered including two (2) imported cases.
According to COVIDNOW data from the Ministry of Health (MOH) as of 11.59 pm on Sept 8, seven (7) states recorded three digit figures namely Kuala Lumpur (548), Selangor (448), Perak (204), Sabah (190), Negeri Sembilan (159), Sarawak (114) and Melaka (112).
Two digit cases were reported in Penang (85), Kedah (76), Johor (75), Kelantan (64), Pahang (57), Putrajaya (42), Terengganu (33) and Labuan (12). Perlis reported one digit cases (7).
The health ministry has announced the use of face masks would no longer be mandatory in most indoor settings effective Sept 7. However, the premise owner can decide if patrons need or don’t need to wear face masks. --fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Below are new daily COVID-19 cases during the week compiled by Bernama from Sept 3 to Sept 8:-
Sept 3 (2,244), Sept 4 (1,904), Sept 5 (1,486), Sept 6 (2,067), Sept 7 (2,428) and Sept 8 (2,226).
Below are new daily COVID-19 cases for the previous week (Aug 27 to Sept 2):-
Aug 27 (2,491), Aug 28 (2,191), Aug 29 (1,946), Aug 30 (2,144), Aug 31 (2,340), Sept 1 (2,356) and Sept 2 (2,328).
Singapore continues to record lower new daily COVID-19 cases, as below:-
Sept 3 (1,549), Sept 4 (1,309), Sept 5 (1,176), Sept 6 (2,745), Sept 7 (2,271) and Sept 8 (2,169).
Members of the public continue wearing face masks despite the recent relaxation of rules. --fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
On Sept 7, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin announced face masks indoors will be optional with immediate effect. However, it is still mandatory in all health care facilities and in public transport.
However, Khairy said premise owners will still have the right to decide if their customers need to wear masks.
For the week under review, MOH reported four (4) new clusters on Sept 5 - Taman Bunga Raya cluster (high risk group) in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan with 13 cases; Sept 7 - Jalan Kemas Seri Iskandar (education) in Perak Tengah, Perak with 16 cases.
Two clusters were reported on Sept 8 - Jalan Bunga Tanjung cluster (high risk group) in Titiwangsa, Kuala Lumpur with 9 cases and Jalan Dato Tabal (education) cluster in Hulu Selangor, Selangor with 3 cases.
Overall, 7072 clusters were detected since the COVID-19 pandemic struck the nation over two years ago and as of Sept 8, a total of 23 clusters were still active.
A total of 1,894 recovered COVID-19 cases were reported, bringing the cumulative figure to date to 4,735,993 cases.
COVIDNOW data from MOH as of 11.59 pm on Sept 8 showed 26,045 cases (95.1 per cent) were quarantined at home out of 27,400 active cases.
A total of 14 cases (0.1 per cent) were at the COVID-19 Integrated Quarantine and Treatment Centre (PKRC); 1,277 cases (4.7 per cent) at hospitals; 26 cases (0.1 per cent) at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) without respiratory assistance (ABP) and 38 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.
Holidaymakers enjoying playing with water and splash at Lata Ulu Kasar, a popular picnic spot in Setiu, Terengganu during the school break. --fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
With a cumulative figure of 4,799,663 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 Greece (4,804,982) and Austria (4,940,768).
According to Worldometer, of the list of 228 nations, Japan continued to record the highest new daily cases (126,487) followed by South Korea (72,599) and Russia (50,618).
On COVID-19 fatalities, the US reported the highest number of COVID-19 fatalities with 1,072,125 cases.
COVID-19 SCENARIO IN MALAYSIA
Orang Asli children enjoying their shower from firemen before their ‘khatan’ (circumcision) ceremony at the Dakwah Islamiah Centre in Paroi, Seremban. --fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Recovered cases:-
Sept 3 (3,202), Sept 4 (3,138), Sept 5 (2,897), Sept 6 (2,279), Sept 7 (2,673) and Sept 8 (1,894).
*Cumulative recovered cases as of Sept 1 stood at 4,735,993.
Active cases with probable infections:-
Sept 3 (30,197), Sept 4 (28,961), Sept 5 (27,546), Sept 6 (27,328), Sept 7 (27,076) and Sept 8 (27,400).
The breakdown of new daily cases (2,226):-
*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 - Kuala Lumpur 548 (+0), Selangor 448 (+0), Perak 203 (+1), Sabah 190 (+0), Negeri Sembilan 158 (+1), Sarawak 114 (+0) and Melaka 112 (+0).
Two digits - Penang 85 (+0), Kedah 76 (+0), Johor 75 (+0), Kelantan 64 (+0), Pahang 57 (+0), Putrajaya 42 (+0), Terengganu 33 (+0) and Labuan 12 (+0).
One digit - Perlis 7 (+0).
New record cases, imported cases, local transmission:
Sept 3 - New cases 2,244; Cumulative cases 4,789,552; Imported cases 4
Sept 4 - New cases 1,904; Cumulative cases 4,791,456; Imported cases 1
Sept 5 - New cases 1,486; Cumulative cases 4,792,942; Imported cases 2
Sept 6 - New cases 2,067; Cumulative cases 4,795,009; Imported cases 4
Sept 7 - New cases 2,428; Cumulative cases 4,797,437; Imported cases 2
Sept 8 - New cases 2,226; Cumulative cases 4,799,663; Imported cases 2
Breakdown of new clusters is as follows:-
Sept 3 - no cluster
Sept 4 - no cluster
Sept 5 - 1 (high risk group 1)
• Taman Bunga Raya cluster (Seremban, Negeri Sembilan) - 13 cases
Sept 6 - no cluster
Sept 7 - 1 (education 1)
• Jalan Kemas Seri Iskandar cluster (Perak Tengah, Perak) - 16 cases
Sept 8 - 2 (high risk group 1 and education 1)
• Jalan Bunga Tanjung cluster (high risk group), Titiwangsa, Kuala Lumpur - 9 cases
• Jalan Dato Tabal cluster (education), Hulu Selangor, Selangor with 3 cases.
Overall, MOH has detected 7,072 clusters since the COVID-19 struck the nation more than two years ago. As of yesterday (Sept 8), 23 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.
Sept 3 - 9 (BID 1), Sept 4 - 2 (BID 0), Sept 5 - 4 (BID 1), Sept 6 - 6 (BID 1), Sept 7 - 7 (BID 2) and Sept 8 - 8 (BID1).
*As of yesterday, Malaysia’s COVID-19 death toll stood at 36,270 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 612,521,932 cases compared to 609,431,363 cases during the previous week with 6,512,279 deaths (previously at 6,501,243 cases). A total of 590,347,571 recovered cases were reported from 585,685,001 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 96,956,153 (+44,592)
India 44,482,411 (+3,775)
France 34,663,106 (+19,866)
Brazil 34,549,915 (+4,099)
Germany 32,386,089 (+no information)
South Korea 23,864,560 (+72,599)
UK 23,521,792 (+no information)
Italy 22,004,612 (+17,317)
Russia 19,908,189 (+50,618)
Japan 19,761,733 (+126,487)
Below is a breakdown of cumulative COVID-19 cases and (+new daily cases) among Southeast Asian nations, including Malaysia:-
Vietnam in the 13th spot - 11,431,823 (+3,191)
Indonesia in the 19th spot - 6,385,140 (+3,138)
Malaysia in the 27th spot - 4,799,663 (+2,226)
Thailand in the 29th spot - 4,664,156 (+1,587)
Philippines in the 38th spot - 3,898,882 (+2,404)
Singapore in the 46th spot - 1,854,455 (+2,169)
Myanmar in the 84th spot - 616,210 (+187)
Brunei in the 111th spot - 223,059 (+no information)
Laos in the 113th spot - 214,741 (+92)
Cambodia in the 125th spot - 137,689 (+2)
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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
