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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 Oct 15 to noon today.
In Malaysia, cases numbers have exceeded 4.87 million and globally, the virus has infected more than 632 million people and caused over 6.57 million deaths. Some 610 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 cases for the six-day week (Oct 15 to Oct 20) saw a 25 per cent increase to 11,674 with the highest recorded yesterday at 2,561.
This is in comparison with 9,330 new daily cases over the same period from Oct 8 to Oct 13.
The Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) Kelantan conducting several exercises such as basic civil defence training, boat handling, and disaster management in preparation for the northeast monsoon in Kelantan River near Tambatan Diraja, Kota Bharu. --fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
New daily cases surpassed the 2,000-mark for three days during the week compiled by Bernama from Oct 15 to Oct 20: 2,023 (Oct 15), 2,295 (Oct 19) and 2,561 (Oct 20). The lowest figure for the week was recorded on Oct 17 at 1,210 cases.
Prior to this, new daily cases in the country exceeded the 2,000 figure for two consecutive days: Oct 13 (2,090) and Oct 14 (2,231). The last time new daily cases surpassed the 2,000 level was on Sept 30 at 2,007.
Cumulative COVID-19 cases in Malaysia now stood at 4,875,131 cases, while active COVID-19 cases according to data from the Ministry of Health (MOH), MOHNOW which was updated as of 11.59pm on Oct 20 stood at 25,636 cases and of the total, 24,483 (95.5 per cent) were quarantined at home.
Of 2,561 cases yesterday, five (5) states recorded three digit numbers namely Selangor (902), Kuala Lumpur (683), Perak (175), Sabah (121) and Negeri Sembilan (111).
Two-digit figures were reported in Penang (98), Kedah (88), Sarawak (74), Melaka (72), Johor (55), Kelantan (53), Putrajaya (51), Pahang (48) and Terengganu (26).
Perlis reported one digit (4) case while Labuan had zero case.
Peloton Riders group in action at the Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) Malaysia 2022 Stage 8 Kuah, Langkawi Loop (115.9 km). --fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
New daily COVID-19 cases during the week compiled by Bernama from Oct 15 to Oct 20:-
Oct 15 (2,023), Oct 16 (1,712), Oct 17 (1,210), Oct 18 (1,873), Oct 19 (2,295) and Oct 20 (2,561).
New daily COVID-19 cases from Oct 8 to Oct 14:-
Oct 8 (1,627), Oct 9 (1,453), Oct 10 (1,241), Oct 11 (1,291), Oct 12 (1,628), Oct 13 (2,090) and Oct 14 (2,231).
New daily COVID-19 cases in neighbouring Singapore are as below:
Oct 15 (8,037), Oct 16 (6,181), Oct 17 (5,196), Oct 18 (11,934), Oct 19 (8,752) and Oct 20 (8,176).
New daily COVID-19 cases in the city-state across the Johor Causeway returned to its five-digit figure with 11,732 infections on Oct 11 and 11,934 cases on Oct 18.
The spike in new cases in the republic was largely driven by the XBB variant, another Omicron sub-variant.
Visitors pose near a booth of the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia Malaysia (K-KOMM) at an exhibition held in conjunction with ‘Jelajah Aspirasi Keluarga Malaysia’ programme at the Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC), Ayer Keroh. --fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Meanwhile, a total of 1,248 recovered cases were reported yesterday, bringing the cumulative figure as of yesterday to 4,813,058 cases.
With a cumulative figure of 4,875,131 cases, Malaysia now ranked 27th in the list of 228 countries/territories hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ahead of Malaysia are Greece (5,081,981) and Ukraine (5,279,346).
According to Worldometer, of the list of 228 nations, Germany recorded the highest new daily cases (92,293) followed by France (56,793) and Italy (40,560).
On COVID-19 fatalities, the US reported the highest number of COVID-19 fatalities with 1,092,408 cases.
COVID-19 SCENARIO IN MALAYSIA
One of the most recognisable traditional and cultural elements displayed during Deepavali celebrations is the beautiful, ornate ‘kolam’. Typically made with coloured rice grains, they add a vibrant touch to the Festival of Light. Drawing ‘kolam’or ‘rangoli’ has a very deep social, cultural and philosophical significance in the Indian way of life. --fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
According to MOHNOW data as of 11.59pm yesterday, 24,483 cases (95.5 per cent) out of 25,636 active COVID-19 cases were quarantined at home.
Zero (0) case was reported at the COVID-19 Integrated Quarantine and Treatment Centre (PKRC); 1,102 cases (4.3 per cent) at hospitals; 28 cases (0.1 per cent) at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) without respiratory assistance (ABP) and 23 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:-
Oct 15 (1,699), Oct 16 (1,699), Oct 17 (2,026), Oct 18 (1,575), Oct 19 (1,386) and Oct 20 (1,248).
*Cumulative recovered cases as of Oct 20 stood at 4,813,058.
Active cases with probable infections:-
Oct 15 (23,881), Oct 16 (23,892), Oct 17 (23,070), Oct 18 (23,425), Oct 19 (24,331) and Oct 20 (25,636).
Active cases with probable infections (2,561 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 902 (+0), Kuala Lumpur 683 (+0), Perak 174 (+1), Sabah 121 (+0) and Negeri Sembilan 109 (+2).
Two digits - Penang 98 (+0), Kedah 87 (+1), Sarawak 74 (+0), Melaka 71 (+1), Johor 55 (+0), Kelantan 51 (+2), Putrajaya 51 (+0), Pahang 47 (+1) and Terengganu 26 (+0).
One digit - Perlis 4 (+0)
Zero (0) case - Labuan 0
New record cases, imported cases, local transmission:
Oct 15 - New cases 2,023; Cumulative cases 4,865,480; Imported cases 13
Oct 16 - New cases 1,712; Cumulative cases 4,867,192; Imported cases 2
Oct 17 - New cases 1,210; Cumulative cases 4,868,402; Imported cases 6
Oct 18 - New cases 1,873; Cumulative cases 4,870,275; Imported cases 3
Oct 19 - New cases 2,295; Cumulative cases 4,872,570; Imported cases 3
Oct 20 - New cases 2,561; Cumulative cases 4,875,131; Imported cases 8
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.
Oct 15 - 0 (BID 0), Oct 16 - 2 (BID 1), Oct 17 - 6 (BID 5), Oct 18 - 3 (BID 0), Oct 19 - 3 (BID 1) and Oct 20 - 8 (BID 1).
*As of yesterday, Malaysia’s COVID-19 death toll stood at 36,437 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 stood at 632,046,555 cases from 629,395,967 during the previous week with 6,579,768 deaths (previously at 6,569,844 deaths). A total of 610,776,843 recovered cases were reported from 608,410,340 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, Germany, Brazil, 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 99,037,299 (+25,595)
India 44,638,011 (+1,494)
France 36,475,518 (+56,793)
Germany 35,005,769 (+92,293)
Brazil 34,818,774 (+5,096)
South Korea 25,219,546 (+25,369)
UK 23,798,793 (+no information)
Italy 23,254,633 (+40,560)
Japan 21,894,638 (+36,110)
Russia 21,345,154 (+10,067)
Below is a breakdown of cumulative COVID-19 cases and (+new daily cases) among Southeast Asian nations, including Malaysia:-
Vietnam 13th spot - 11,495,772 (+541)
Indonesia 20th spot - 6,464,962 (+2,307)
Malaysia 27th spot - 4,875,131 (+2,561)
Thailand 30th spot - 4,687,281 (+no information)
Philippines 38th spot - 3,989,556 (+2,227)
Singapore 46th spot - 2,046,123 (+8,176)
Myanmar 83rd spot - 629,653 (+277)
Brunei 110th spot - 234,582 (+no information)
Laos 113th spot - 216,158 (+13)
Cambodia 125th spot - 137,979 (+3)
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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
