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span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">By Melati Mohd Ariff
This is Bernama’s weekly roundup on COVID-19 and related matters in Malaysia and globally from Sept 24 to noon today.
In Malaysia, cases numbers have exceeded 4.83 million and globally, the virus has infected more than 622 millionpeople and caused over 6.54 million deaths. Some 602 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) – Malaysia’s COVID-19 active cases now stood at 25,174 as of yesterday (Sept 29) with 95.6 per cent (24,071 cases) undergoing home quarantine.
New daily COVID-19 cases during the month of September remained below the 2,500 level with 1,867 infections reported yesterday (Sept 29) including four (4) imported cases.
To date, the lowest figure for September was reported on Sept 26 with 1,186 cases and the highest at 2,445 (Sept 28).
Meanwhile, a total of 10,582 new daily COVID-19 cases were recorded for the week compiled by Bernama from Sept 24 to Sept 29 as against 10,541 for the same period Sept 17 to Sept 22.
A group of friends having a beach volleyball game at the Ramsey Point Beach in Labuan in conjunction with World Heart Day 2022. --fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
According to COVIDNOW data from the Ministry of Health (MOH) as of 11.59 pm yesterday, out of 1,867 cases yesterday, five (5) states reported three-digit figures led by Selangor (470 cases). Selangor reported 990 cases on Sept 28.
Other states with three digit numbers are Kuala Lumpur (451), Perak (183), Sabah (159) and Penang (104).
Two digits were reported in Melaka (82), Negeri Sembilan (79), Sarawak (77), Johor (56), Kelantan (55), Kedah (52), Pahang (40), Terengganu (29) and Putrajaya (23).
One digit was reported in Perlis (4) and Labuan (3). For the record, Labuan reported zero COVID-19 cases on Sept 25, Sept 26 and Sept 28.
The ‘Tingkah Geruh Battle’ competition is among the events held in conjunction with the Borneo Arts Festival (BAFF2022) held in Labuan after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. --fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Below are new daily COVID-19 cases for the week compiled by Bernama from Sept 24 to Sept 29:-
Sept 24 (1,924), Sept 25 (1,608), Sept 26 (1,186), Sept 27 (1,552), Sept 28 (2,445) and Sept 29 (1,867).
New daily COVID-19 cases for the previous week (Sept 17 to Sept 23) are as below:-
Sept 17 (1,572), Sept 18 (1,639), Sept 19 (1,307), Sept 20 (1,667), Sept 21 (2,111), Sept 22 (2,245) and Sept 23 (2,070).
Following are new daily COVID-19 cases in Singapore:-
Sept 24 (2,342), Sept 25 (1,797), Sept 26 (1,606), Sept 27 (4,360), Sept 28 (3,454) and Sept 29 (3,431).
A total of 1,402 recovered COVID-19 cases were reported, bringing the cumulative figure to 4,777,329. For fatalities, 4 cases were reported with total cumulative figure to date at 36,369.
A Royal Malaysia Air Force (RMAF) helicopter performing a flypast during a combat parade and the Malaysia Armed Forces (MAF) asset demonstration at the Kuantan Air Base. --fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
With a cumulative figure of 4,838,872 cases, Malaysia now ranked 27th in the list of 228 countries/territories hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ahead of Malaysia are Greece (4.920,1192) and Austria (5,118,512).
According to Worldometer, of the list of 228 nations, France recorded the highest new daily cases (51,366) followed by Taiwan (44,880) and Japan (42,173).
On COVID-19 fatalities, the US reported the highest number of COVID-19 fatalities with 1,084,250 cases.
COVID-19 SCENARIO IN MALAYSIA
Fire and Rescue Services (JBPM) personnel monitoring the surrounding lake areas during a monitoring and training session as preparation for the northeast monsoon phenomenon at Tasek Banding, Grik. --fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
MOH COVIDNOW data as of 11.59 pm yesterday showed 24,071 cases (95.6 per cent) were quarantined at home out of 25,174 active cases.
No case was reported at the COVID-19 Integrated Quarantine and Treatment Centre (PKRC); 1,060 cases (4.2 per cent) at hospitals; 19 cases (0.1 per cent) at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) without respiratory assistance (ABP) and 24 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.
Recovered cases:-
Sept 24 (2,360), Sept 25 (2,352), Sept 26 (1,690), Sept 27 (1,684), Sept 28 (1,613) and Sept 29 (1,402).
*Cumulative recovered cases as of Sept 29 stood at 4,777,329.
Active cases with probable infections:-
Sept 24 (25,278), Sept 25 (24,532), Sept 26 (24,021), Sept 27 (23,883), Sept 28 (24,713) and Sept 29 (25,174).
Breakdown of new daily cases (1,867 cases) :-
*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 470 (+0), Kuala Lumpur 451 (+0), Perak 182 (+1), Sabah 157 (+2) and Penang 104 (+0).
Two digits - Melaka 82 (+0), Negeri Sembilan 79 (+0), Sarawak 77 (+0), Johor 56 (+0), Kelantan 55 (+0), Kedah 52 (+0), Pahang 40 (+0), Terengganu 29 (+0) and Putrajaya 23 (+0).
One digit - Perlis 3 (+1) and Labuan 3 (+0).
New record cases, imported cases, local transmission:
Sept 24 - New cases 1,924; Cumulative cases 4,830,214; Imported cases 0.
Sept 25 - New cases 1,608; Cumulative cases 4,831.822; Imported cases 2.
Sept 26 - New cases 1,186; Cumulative cases 4,833,008; Imported cases 7.
Sept 27 - New cases 1,552; Cumulative cases 4,834,560; Imported cases 6.
Sept 28 - New cases 2,445; Cumulative cases 4,837,005; Imported cases 2.
Sept 29 - New cases 1,867; Cumulative cases 4,838,872; Imported cases 4.
Breakdown in new clusters as below:-
Sept 24 - no cluster
Sept 25 - no cluster
Sept 26 - 1 (education 1)
Pulai Chondong 3 (Machang, Kelantan) cluster - 7 cases
Sept 27 - no cluster
Sept 28 - no cluster
Sept 29 - 1 (high risk group 1)
Jalan Perak Georgetown 2 (North East, Penang) cluster - 19 cases
*Overall, a total of 7,081 clusters were detected and as of Sept 29, 14 clusters were still active.
Record death cases are as below:-
*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 24 - 3 (BID 1), Sept 25 - 2 (BID 0), Sept 26 - 7 (BID 0), Sept 27 - 6 (BID 1), Sept 28 - 2 (BID 0) and Sept 29 - 4 (BID 0).
*As of yesterday, Malaysia’s COVID-19 death toll stood at 36,369 cases.
GLOBAL COVID-19 STATISTICS
Current Worldwide Statistics on COVID-19 and COVID-19 Case Summary in Malaysia. worldometers.info/coronavirus
According to Worldometer, total COVID-19 cases globally to date stood at 622,370,893 compared to 619,582,145 cases during the previous week with 6,547,074 deaths (previously at 6,538,519). A total of 599,498,874 recovered cases were reported from 595,820,804 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, South Korea, the United Kingdom (UK), Italy, Japan and Russia.
The breakdown of the top 10 nations (+ new record daily cases) is as follows:-
US 98,164,133 (+28,745)
India 44,585,456 (+2,096)
France 35,342,950 (+51,366)
Brazil 34,706,757 (+9,894)
Germany 33,216,006 (+no information)
South Korea 24,740,635 (+30,846)
UK 23,621,952 (+no information)
Italy 22,432,803 (+37,521)
Japan 21,229,216 (+42,173)
Russia 20,948,470 (+38,739)
Below is a breakdown of cumulative COVID-19 cases and (+new daily cases) among Southeast Asian nations, including Malaysia:-
Vietnam in the 13th spot - 11,477,886 (+978)
Indonesia in the 19th spot - 6,429,767 (+2,003)
Malaysia in the 27th spot - 4,838,872 (+1,867)
Thailand in the 29th spot - 4,680,470 (+637)
Philippines in the 38th spot - 3,945,566 (+2,536)
Singapore in the 46th spot - 1,904,192 (+3,431)
Myanmar in the 83rd spot - 622,802 (+379)
Brunei in the 111th spot - 226,237 (+no information)
Laos in the 113th spot - 215,821 (+no information)
Cambodia in the 125th spot - 137,870 (+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
