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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 Oct 22 to noon today.
In Malaysia, cases numbers have exceeded 4.89 million and globally, the virus has infected more than 634 million people and caused over 6.58 million deaths. Some 613 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 for the six-day week (compiled by Bernama from Oct 22 to Oct 27) saw a 12 per cent increase to 13,050 with the highest recorded yesterday (Oct 27) at 2,762 cases.
Of the 2,762 cases, eight (8) were imported cases and five (5) were reported in Melaka and one each (1) in Negeri Sembilan, Perak and Sarawak.
This is in comparison with 11,674 new daily COVID-19 cases during the same period from Oct 15 to Oct 20. Cumulative COVID-19 cases in Malaysia now stood at 4,890,437.
A must-visit place for tourists is the Stadthuys, a historical building near Banda Hilir, Melaka which is known for its red exterior and nearby red clock tower. --fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said a slight increase in the number of COVID-19 cases is expected in the next few weeks following the identification of a small wave of infections link to the Omicron XBB sub-variant in the country.
To date, for this month, new daily cases surpassed the 2,000-mark for 10 days:
Oct 13 (2,090), Oct 14 (2,231), Oct 15 (2,023), Oct 19 (2,295), Oct 20 (2,561), Oct 21 (2.256), Oct 22 (2,618), Oct 23 (2,054), Oct 26 (2,136) and Oct 27 (2,762).
The last time new daily cases surpassed the 2,000 level was on Sept 30 at 2,007. The lowest figure for the month was recorded on Oct 17 at 1,210 cases.
Cumulative COVID-19 cases in Malaysia now stood at 4,890,437 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 27 stood at 28,720 cases and of the total, 27,503 (95.8 per cent) were quarantined at home.
MotoGP racers in action at the Petronas Grand Prix 2022 at Sepang International Circuit (SIC). --fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Of 2,762 cases yesterday, five (5) states recorded three-digit figures namely Selangor (964), Kuala Lumpur (709), Perak (217), Sabah (126) and Penang (104).
Two digit numbers were recorded in Negeri Sembilan (94), Sarawak (90), Melaka (82), Kedah (75), Kelantan (74), Pahang (68), Johor (60), Putrajaya (54) and Terengganu (30).
One (1) digit figure was reported in Perlis (9) and Labuan (6).
New daily COVID-19 cases during the week compiled by Bernama from Oct 22 to Oct 27:-
Oct 22 (2,618), Oct 23 (2,054), Oct 24 (1,737), Oct 25 (1,743), Oct 26 (2,136) and Oct 27 (2,762).
New daily COVID-19 cases from Oct 15 to Oct 21:
Oct 15 (2,023), Oct 16 (1,712), Oct 17 (1,210), Oct 18 (1,873), Oct 19 (2,295), Oct 20 (2,561) and Oct 21 (2,256).
New daily COVID-19 cases in neighbouring Singapore are as below:-
Oct 22 (6,339), Oct 23 (4,454), Oct 24 (3,627), Oct 25 (2,994), Oct 26 (9,557) and Oct 27 (6,247).
New daily COVID-19 cases in the city-state across the Johor Causeway returned to its five-digit figure on Oct 11 (11,732) and Oct 18 (11,934).
The spike in new cases in the republic was largely driven by the XBB variant, another Omicron sub-variant.
Several organising staff giving the final touches of the main stage for the Jelajah Aspirasi Keluarga Malaysia (AKM) Pahang event at the Sultan Ahmad Shah International Convention Centre (SASICC). --fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Meanwhile, a total of 1,271 recovered cases were reported yesterday, bringing the cumulative figure as of yesterday to 4,825,255 cases.
With a cumulative figure of 4,890,437 cases, Malaysia now ranked 27th in the list of 228 countries/territories hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ahead of Malaysia are Greece (5,135,200) and Ukraine (5,296,254).
According to Worldometer, of the list of 228 countries, Germany reported the highest new daily cases (61,492) followed by Japan (42,737) and France (37,089).
On COVID-19 fatalities, the US reported the highest number of COVID-19 fatalities with 1,092,596 cases.
COVID-19 SCENARIO IN MALAYSIA
Hindus mark their Deepavali celebration by drawing ‘kolam’ which is made of coloured rice grains to add vibrancy to the festival. --fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
According to MOHNOW data as of 11.59pm yesterday, 27,503 cases (95.8 per cent) out of 28,720 active COVID-19 cases were quarantined at home.
Zero (0) case was reported at the COVID-19 Integrated Quarantine and Treatment Centre (PKRC); 1,170 cases (4.1 per cent) at hospitals; 17 cases (0.1 per cent) at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) without respiratory assistance (ABP) and 30 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 22 (1,841), Oct 23 (1,975), Oct 24 (2,118), Oct 25 (1,935), Oct 26 (1,695) and Oct 27 (1,271).
*Cumulative recovered cases as of Oct 27 stood at 4,825,255
Active cases with probable infections:-
Oct 22 (27,299), Oct 23 (27,378), Oct 24 (26,994), Oct 25 (26,797), Oct 26 (27,233) and Oct 27 (28,720).
Active cases with probable infections (2,762 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-digit - Selangor 964 (+0), Kuala Lumpur 709 (+0), Perak 216 (+1), Sabah 126 (+0) and Penang 104 (+0).
Two-digit - Negeri Sembilan 93 (+1), Sarawak 89 (+1), Melaka 77 (+5), Kedah 75 (+0), Kelantan 74 (+0), Pahang 68 (+0), Johor 60 (+0), Putrajaya 54 (+0) and Terengganu 30 (+0).
One-digit - Perlis 9 (+0) and Labuan 6 (+0).
New record cases, imported cases, local transmission:
Oct 22 - New cases 2,618; Cumulative cases 4,880,005; Imported cases 7
Oct 23 - New cases 2,054; Cumulative cases 4,882,059; Imported cases 1
Oct 24 - New cases 1,737; Cumulative cases 4,883,796; Imported cases 1
Oct 25 - New cases 1,743; Cumulative cases 4,885,539; Imported cases 1
Oct 26 - New cases 2,136; Cumulative cases 4,887,984; Imported cases 3
Oct 27 - New cases 2,762; Cumulative cases 4,890,437; 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 22 - 4 (BID 2), Oct 23 - 0 (BID 0), Oct 24 - 3 (BID 1), Oct 25 - 5 (BID 1), Oct 26 - 6 (BID 3) and Oct 27 - 4 (BID 2).
*As of yesterday, Malaysia’s COVID-19 death toll stood at 36,462 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 634,610,831 cases from 632,438,082 cases during the previous week with 6,589,402 deaths (previously at 6,581,228 deaths). A total of 613,599,395 recovered cases were reported from 611,189,253 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 99,281,954 (+24,331)
India 44,648,505 (+1,625)
France 36,744,655 (+37,089)
Germany 35,523,412 (+61,492)
Brazil 34,857,648 (+8,580)
South Korea 25,431,105 (+34,950)
UK 23,855,522 (+no information)
Italy 23,475,187 (+31,758)
Japan 22,148,863 (+42,737)
Russia 21,402,209 (+7,849)
Below is a breakdown of cumulative COVID-19 cases and (+new daily cases) among Southeast Asian nations, including Malaysia:-
Vietnam 13th spot - 11,499,357 (+484)
Indonesia 20th spot - 6,481,749 (+3,029)
Malaysia 27th spot - 4,890,437 (+2,762)
Thailand 30th spot - 4,689,897 (+no information)
Philippines 38th spot - 3,999,226 (+1,379)
Singapore 46th spot - 2,086,588 (+6,247)
Myanmar 83rd spot - 631,059 (+157)
Brunei 110th spot - 237,656 (+no information)
Laos 113th spot - 216,212 (+7)
Cambodia 125th spot - 137,979 (+no information)
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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
