MALAYSIA’S new Covid-19 cases jumped from one yesterday to 21 today, with the majority being imported cases, said Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

Of the 21 new cases, 15 were imported, and all involved Malaysians, Noor Hisham said in a statement.

As for the six local transmissions, three are from the Sivagangga cluster; two were the result of screening at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Women and Children Hospital in Sabah; and, the last case was detected in a pre-surgery procedure at Sultanah Aminah Hospital in Johor Baru.

The total number of cases is now 9,023, with overall recoveries standing at 8,702. There are 196 active cases.

No new fatalities were reported, keeping the death toll at 125.

Two patients are currently being treated in intensive care, with none requiring respiratory assistance.

Elaborating further on the imported cases, Noor Hisham said the 12 cases involved Malaysians returning from Yemen, Papua New Guinea (1), Ivory Coast (1) and the UK (1).

“All the patients have been quarantined upon arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport and as such, they pose no threat to public health,” said Noor Hisham, adding that health screening protocols at Malaysia’s borders continue to be in place.

Meanwhile, Noor Hisham said the three new cases related to the Sivangangga cluster in Kedah are second-generation infections due to close contact with other patients.

Noor Hisham said two patients were the children of Patient 9,000, one of whom suffered breathing difficulty on July 30 but did not seek medical treatment then.

The third new case suffered from fever and breathing difficulty on August 2 and sought treatment at Taman Selasih Clinic in Kulim.

“Please be informed that false information is being circulated about the areas this particular patient has visited. The public is reminded not to spread false information. Active case detections will continue and the public will be informed of any development.”

Noor Hisham added that all three patients have been quarantined and warded at Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Kedah as of yesterday.

As of noon today, 1,647 people have been screened in relation to the cluster. Of that figure, 24 tested positive, with a further 869 awaiting results. Of those who tested positive, 19 are Malaysians with the remaining five being foreigners. – August 5, 2020.