MALAYSIA today saw its third healthcare staff succumbing to Covid-19, with the passing of a 32-year-old woman.

Health Director-General Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the woman had a history of high blood pressure.

“She was a Health Ministry healthcare staff and had a history of close contact with a positive case, which is Case 3662, linked to the specialist hospital in Muar, Johor,” he said at his daily press conference today.

She was treated at the Enche Besar Hajjah Kalsom Hospital in Johor and was pronounced dead at 12.36am today.

Malaysia today recorded 71 new Covid-19 cases, bringing the total to 5,603.

There were also two deaths today, taking the toll to 95.

However, the nation continues to record more recoveries than positive cases, with 90 patients discharged today, with total recuperations now at 3,542 cases.

The second death reported today was that of a 67-year-old man who had close contact with a case from the PUI Bali cluster. The man who was treated at the Tengku Ampuan Afzan had a history of chronic illnesses.

Noor Hisham also said 325 healthcare personnel have been infected with the virus as of April 23.

This is 5.8% of the total number of cases nationwide.

Of the number, 185 healthcare personnel have recovered completely, while 137 are still being treated.

In giving a breakdown of the personnel, Noor Hisham said the cases involved 77 medical officers, followed by nurses (66), graduate medical officers (34), specialists (23), assistant medical officers (21), and 104 others involved in the service.

However, he said they were all not infected while treating Covid-19 patients.

“Based on our investigations, the cause of infections was not solely due to treating Covid-19 patients in our health facilities.

“We discovered that 70% of cases were from private activities such as attending functions, going overseas and as such,” he said. – April 23, 2020.