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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 Feb 18 to noon today.
In Malaysia, case numbers stood at 5.04 million and globally, the virus has infected more than 679 million people and caused over 6.79 million deaths. Some 652 million patients have so far recovered from the virus.
The COVID-19 pandemic, which is now in its fourth year, has affected 229 countries and territories.
KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) – New daily COVID-19 caseload in Malaysia stayed below 250 for the week compiled by Bernama from Feb 18 to Feb 23, with 1,202 cases, down eight per cent from Feb 11-Feb 16 week.
Yesterday, Malaysia reported 224 new daily COVID-19 cases including one (1) imported and zero death case. No fatalities were reported for two consecutive days on Feb 22 and Feb 21.
According to MOHNOW data from the Ministry of Health (MOH) as of 11.59pm, out of 9,270 active cases, 8,952 (96.6 per cent) were home quarantined.
A group of boys being sprayed with water by fire fighters at the Khatan (cicumcision) Perdana event for Lembah Pantai parliamentary constituency at the Kerinchi People’s Housing Project (PPR), Kuala Lumpur. --fotoBERNAMA (2023) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
As of yesterday, total cumulative COVID-19 cases in the country stood at 5,041,811 with 4,995,584 recoveries and 36,957 deaths. The pandemic hit the nation on Jan 25, 2020. Malaysia entered the transition to endemic phase on April 1, 2022.
Out of 224 cases yesterday, five (5) states/regions reported two (2) digit figures, with Selangor taking the lead (66), followed by Kuala Lumpur (57), Melaka (19), Sarawak (18) and Perak (16).
One digit cases were reported in Penang (9), Johor (8), Negeri Sembilan (7), Sabah (5), Kedah (5), Kelantan (5), Putrajaya (4), Terengganu (4) and Pahang (1).
Zero case - Labuan and Perlis.
With a cumulative figure of 5,041,811 cases, Malaysia now ranked 28th out of 229 nations/territories struck by the pandemic. Ahead of Malaysia is Chile (5,156,519) and Ukraine (5,382,095).
Some of the relief goods being loaded on an aircraft through the humanitarian aid mission to earthquake victims in Syria at the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) base in Subang.
--fotoBERNAMA (2023) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
According to Worldometer, of the list of 229 countries, Japan reported the highest new daily cases (15,193) followed by Russia (14,721) and Taiwan (14,387).
On COVID-19 fatalities, the United States (US) reported the highest figure with 102,534,080 cases.
Following are new daily COVID-19 cases during the week compiled by Bernama from Feb 18 to Feb 23:-
Feb 18 (212), Feb 19 (186), Feb 20 (167), Feb 21 (184), Feb 22 (229) and Feb 23 (224).
New daily COVID-19 cases for the week compiled by Bernama from Feb 11 to Feb 17:-
Feb 11 (259), Feb 12 (160), Feb 13 (164), Feb 14 (200), Feb 15 (237), Feb 16 (281) and Feb 17 (241).
COVID-19 SCENARIO IN MALAYSIA
Kuantan residents with their families enjoying a respite from city life in a forested surrounding at the Sungai Pandan Forest Reserve, a popular weekend retreat for local dwellers. --fotoBERNAMA (2023) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
(MOHNOW data as of 11:59pm yesterday)
Malaysia’s active COVID-19 cases as of yesterday stood at 9,270 and of the total, 8,952 (96.6 per cent) were quarantined at home.
Zero (0) case was reported at the COVID-19 Integrated Quarantine and Treatment Centre (PKRC); 309 cases (3.3 per cent) at hospitals; 2 cases (0 per cent) at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) without respiratory assistance (ABP) and 7 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:-
A young boy immersed in a book during the school holidays at the Negeri Sembilan public library. --fotoBERNAMA (2023) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Feb 18 (310), Feb 19 (158), Feb 20 (169), Feb 21 (192), Feb 22 (227) and Feb 23 (278).
*cumulative recovered cases as of 11.59pm stood at 4,995,584.
Imported cases:-
Feb 18 (1), Feb 19 (5), Feb 20 (7), Feb 21 (3), Feb 22 (0) and Feb 23 (1).
Active cases with probable infections:-
Feb 18 (9,306), Feb 19 (9,333), Feb 20 (9,330), Feb 21 (9,322), Feb 22 (9,324) and Feb 23 (9,270).
Quarantined at Home
Feb 18 (8,968), Feb 19 (9,000), Feb 20 (8,983), Feb 21 (8,986), Feb 22 (9,001) and Feb 23 (8,952).
Breakdown in new daily cases (224):-
*state-to-state breakdown as of 11.59pm yesterday
*(+imported cases)
Latest Status of COVID-19 in Malaysia. New Cases by States. Source: MOH
Two digits - Selangor 66 (+0), Kuala Lumpur 57 (+0), Melaka 19 (+0), Sarawak 18 (+0) and Perak 16 (+0).
One digit - Penang 9 (+0), Johor 8 (+0), Negeri Sembilan 7 (+0), Sabah 5 (+0), Kedah 5 (+0), Kelantan 4 (+1), Putrajaya 4 (+0), Terengganu 4 (+0) and Pahang 1 (+0).
Zero case - Labuan and Perlis.
New record cases, imported cases, local transmission:
Feb 18 - New cases 212; Cumulative cases 5,040,821; Imported cases 1
Feb 19- New cases 186; Cumulative cases 5,041,007; Imported cases 5
Feb 20- New cases 167; Cumulative cases 5,041,174; Imported cases 7
Feb 21 - New cases 184; Cumulative cases 5,041,358; Imported cases 3
Feb 22 - New cases 229; Cumulative cases 5,041,587; Imported cases 0
Feb 23 - New cases 224; Cumulative cases 5,041,811; 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.
Feb 18 – 1 (BID 0), Feb 19 - 1 (BID 0), Feb 20 - 1 (BID 1), Feb 21 - 0 (BID 0), Feb 22- 0 (BID 0) and Feb 23 - 0 (BID 0).
*As of yesterday, Malaysia’s COVID-19 death toll at 36,957.
GLOBAL COVID-19 STATISTICS
Current Worldwide Statistics on COVID-19 and COVID-19 Case Summary in Malaysia. worldometers.info/coronavirus
According to Worldometer, total global COVID-19 cases during the week stood at 679,302,460 compared to 678,488,442 cases the previous week with 6,795,897 deaths. Total death cases during the previous week stood at 6,790,066.
Recovered cases to date stood at 652,101,804 compared to 651,025,080 during the previous week.
Some 229 countries are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and those in the top 10 of the list are the US, India, France, Germany, Brazil, Japan, South Korea, 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 105,161,023 (+12,094)
India 44,685,450(+NA)
France 35,605,037 (+4,489)
Germany 37,986,750 (NA)
Brazil 37,008,944 (+11,616)
Japan 33,151,209 (+15,193)
South Korea 30,469,702 (+10,845)
Italy 25,547,414 (NA)
UK 24,341,615 (NA)
Russia 22,218,663 (+14,721)
Below is a breakdown of cumulative COVID-19 cases and (+new daily cases) among Southeast Asian nations
*No information (NA).
Vietnam 13th spot - 11,526,870 (+12)
Indonesia 20th spot - 6,734,818 (+NA)
Malaysia 28th spot - 5,041,811 (+224)
Thailand 31st spot - 4,727,628 (NA)
Philippines 37th spot - 4,075,812 (+150)
Singapore 45th spot - 2,222,006 (+NA)
Myanmar 84th spot - 633,905 (+2)
Brunei 106th spot - 276,825 (NA)
Laos 113th spot - 218,014 (+2)
Cambodia 125th spot - 138,713 (+NA)
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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.
-- The pre endemic scenario shows the XBB variant was dominant in the spread of COVID-19 in the country based on the genetic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 throughout December 2022, comprising 55.4 per cent, followed by the BA.2.75 variant (20.8 per cent) and BQ.1 variant (10.8 per cent).
-- The XBB variant was the main variant spreading among Malaysians since October 2022. Both the XBB and BA.2.75 variants are categorised by WHO as Lineage Under Monitoring (LUM).
-- One of the Omicron sub-variants originally detected in October 2022 is XBB.1.5, a recombinant of two BA.2 sublineages. It is on the rise in the US and Europe and has now been identified in more than 25 countries.
-- Some scientists have nicknamed the XBB.1.5 Omicron strain as ‘Kraken’ with the potential of spawning more dangerous variants. WHO has announced that it had commissioned a risk assessment that outlines the new threats the XBB.1.5 variant poses, if any.
-- In China, the BA.5.2 and BF.7 variants accounted for almost 80 per cent of the variants that are currently found to be spreading rapidly in the republic.
-- Malaysia’s new daily cases, which previously surged to over 30,000 (33,406 on March 5, 2022), have since declined to the lowest level at 101 on Jan 24, 2023. For the record, active COVID-19 cases in the country on March 5, 2022 stood at 311,206.
Translated by Salbiah Said
BERNAMA
