FIVE new Covid-19 fatalities today bring Malaysia’s toll to 50, said Director-General of Health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

Three of the five deaths recorded as at noon were in Johor.

Dr Noor Hisham reported 208 new infections, taking the national total to 3,116.

He said another 122 patients have been discharged from hospital, bringing the number of recoveries to 767.

Of those still receiving treatment, 105 are in the intensive care unit with 54 of them on ventilators.

The first of the five new deaths – all men – was a 37-year-old Malaysian with a history of chronic disease and low immunity.

The second was another local, aged 78, with high blood pressure and gout.

The third was an 85-year-old with hypertension, diabetes and heart disease, while the fourth was a 61-year-old who was a close contact of another coronavirus patient.

The fifth fatality was a 69-year-old.

Dr Noor Hisham, speaking to the press in Putrajaya, said Malaysia’s Covid-19 fatality rate of 1.6% is low compared to other countries.

He said 80% of infections started off with either no or mild symptoms, while 20% required medical attention, of which 5% were critical cases.

“If we can flatten the curve, we can lower the total number of cases.” – April 2, 2020.