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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 Dec 3 to noon today.
In Malaysia, case numbers have exceeded 5.0 million and globally, the virus has infected more than 652 million people and caused over 6.6 million deaths. Some 628 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 cumulative COVID-19 infections surpassed five (5) million last Sunday and as of yesterday (Dec 8), the Ministry of Health (MOH) has reported 5,006,855 cases.
Last Sunday (Dec 4), total cumulative cases stood at 5,000,332 with new daily COVID-19 cases in the country hovering below 2,000 during the week compiled by Bernama (Dec 3-Dec 8).
A disabled man fulfilling his duty as voter for the Padang Serai Parliamentary seat in the 15th general election (GE15) at Sekolah Kebangsaan Bukit Selarong, Padang Serai, Kulim, Kedah. --fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Total new daily COVID-19 cases for the week dropped nearly 25 per cent to 9,891 compared to 13,169 for the period Nov 26 – Dec 1.
Yesterday, a total of 1,616 new daily cases were reported including four (4) death cases and one (1) imported case. For this month to date, the lowest case was recorded on Dec 4 at 1,502.
Of the 1,616 new daily cases reported yesterday, none of the states recorded four digit figures. Selangor took the top spot with 474 cases, followed by Kuala Lumpur (154), Sarawak (145), Penang (130) and Kedah (104).
Two digits were reported in Melaka (96), Negeri Sembilan (83), Sabah (82), Perak (77), Putrajaya (75), Kelantan (51), Pahang (44), Terengganu (42), Johor (30), Labuan (19) and Perlis (10).
Meanwhile, active COVID-19 cases according to data from the Ministry of Health (MOH), MOHNOW which was updated at 11.59pm yesterday stood at 21,473 and of the total, 20,068 cases (93.5 per cent) were quarantined at home.
Below are new daily COVID-19 cases during the week compiled by Bernama Dec 3 to Dec 8:-
Dec 3 (1,866), Dec 4 (1,502), Dec 5 (1,576), Dec 6 (1,649), Dec 7 (1,682) and Dec 8 (1,616).
Below are new daily COVID-19 cases from Nov 26 to Dec 2:-
Eligible voters waiting in line to cast their ballots for the Tioman state seat (N.42) in the 15th general election (GE15) at Sekolah Kebangsaan Pontian, Rompin, Pahang. --fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Nov 26 (2,898), Nov 27 (2,022), Nov 28 (2,465), Nov 29 (1,672), Nov 30 (1,737), Dec 1 (2,375) and Dec 2 (2,421).
New daily COVID-19 cases in neighbouring Singapore for the period Dec 3 to Dec 8 are as follows:-
Dec 3 (1,052), Dec 4 (846), Dec 5 (776), Dec 6 (1,817), 7 Dec 7 (1,349) and Dec 8 (1,363).
With a cumulative figure of 5,006,855 cases, Malaysia now ranked 27th in the list of 228 countries/territories hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ahead of Malaysia are Ukraine (5,341,284) and Greece (5,404,690).
According to Worldometer, of the list of 228 countries, Japan reported the highest new daily cases (133,065) followed by France (71,597) and South Korea (65,253).
On COVID-19 fatalities, the United States (US) reported the highest figure at 1,109,394 cases.
COVID-19 SCENARIO IN MALAYSIA
The 2022 World Cup fever has also gripped young fans in Kelantan as they show their skills during a friendly match at Padang Bank, Kota Bharu.--fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
MOHNOW data as of 11.59pm yesterday showed 20,068 cases (93.5 per cent) out of 21,473 active COVID-19 cases were quarantined at home.
Zero (0) case was reported at the COVID-19 Integrated Quarantine and Treatment Centre (PKRC); 1,324 cases (6.2 per cent) at hospitals; 23 cases (0.1 per cent) at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) without respiratory assistance (ABP) and 58 cases (0.3 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:-
Officers and men of the Malaysian Battalion (Malbatt) 850-9 during the medal presentation and dissolution of the Armed Forces peacekeeping team ceremony in Port Dickson. --fotoBERNAMA (2022) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Dec 3 (2,814), Dec 4 (2,093), Dec 5 (2,278), Dec 6 (1,675), Dec 7 (1,428) and Dec 8 (2,145).
*Cumulative recovered cases as of yesterday stood at 4,948,640.
Active cases with probable infections:-
Dec 3 (23,099), Dec 4 (22,505), Dec 5 (21,800), Dec 6 (21,758), Dec 7 (22,006) and Dec 8 (21,473).
Breakdown in daily new cases (1,616):-
*state-by-state as of yesterday
*(+imported cases)
Latest Status of COVID-19 in Malaysia. New Cases by States. Source: MOH
Three digits - Selangor 474 (+0), Kuala Lumpur 154 (+0), Sarawak 144 (+1), Penang 130 (+0), and Kedah 104 (+0).
Two digits - Melaka 96 (+0), Negeri Sembilan 83 (+0), Sabah 82 (+0), Perak 77 (+0), Putrajaya 75 (+0), Kelantan 51 (+0), Pahang 44 (+0), Terengganu 42 (+0), Johor 30 (+0), Labuan 19 (+0) and Perlis 10 (+0).
New record cases, imported cases, local transmission:
Dec 3 - New cases 1,866; Cumulative cases 4,998,830; Imported cases 6
Dec 4 - New cases 1,502; Cumulative cases 5,000,332; Imported cases 1
Dec 5 - New cases 1,576; Cumulative cases 5,001,908; Imported cases 1
Dec 6 - New cases 1,649; Cumulative cases 5,003,557; Imported cases 3
Dec 7 - New cases 1,682; Cumulative cases 5,005,239; Imported cases 2
Dec 8 - New cases 1,616; Cumulative cases 5.006,855; Imported cases 1
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.
Dec 3 - 6 (BID 1), Dec 4 - 3 (BID 2), Dec 5 - 3 (BID 2), Dec 6 - 16 (BID 8), Dec 7 - 6 (BID 0) and Dec 8 - 4 (BID 1).
*As of yesterday, Malaysia’s COVID-19 death toll stood at 36,742.
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 652,154,385 (previous week at 649,180,288 cases) with 6,654,233 death cases (6,644,480 cases previously).
A total of 628,229,423 recoveries were reported as against 626,624,022 cases during the previous week.
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, Japan, Italy, the United Kingdom (UK) and Russia.
The breakdown of the top 10 nations (+ new record daily cases) is as follows:-
*No information (NA).
US 101,213,638 (+37,689)
India 44,675,509 (+221)
France 38,331,430 +(71,597)
Germany 36,690,235 (NA)
Brazil 35,563,044 (+33,433)
South Korea 27,548,821(+65,253)
Japan 25,687,798 (+133,065)
Italy 24,024,746 (NA)
UK 24,024,746 (NA)
Russia 21,643,194 (+7,430)
Below is a breakdown of cumulative COVID-19 cases and (+new daily cases) among Southeast Asian nations, including Malaysia:- *No information (NA).
Vietnam 13th spot - 11,519,539 (+528)
Indonesia 20th spot - 6,692,509 (+2,977)
Malaysia 27th spot - 5,006,855 (+1,616)
Thailand 31st spot - 4,711,528 (NA)
Philippines 37th spot - 4,045,358 (+1,483)
Singapore 45th spot - 2,177,701 (+1,363)
Myanmar 83rd spot - 633,381 (+12)
Brunei 110th spot - 241,044 (NA)
Laos 113th spot - 217,026 (+38)
Cambodia 125th spot - 138,202 (+14)
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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
