MALAYSIA has recorded its first Covid-19 death, said the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee.

It said the victim, a 60-year-old pastor from the Emmanuel Baptist Church Kuching, died at 11am today at Sarawak General Hospital.

“The State Health Department is still in the process to identifying the source of his infection,’ it said in a statement.

The statement did not name the pastor, but a friend of the deceased identified him as David Cheng of the Emmanuel Baptist Church (EBC) at Taman Hui Sing in Kuching.

Cheng was tested positive for Covid-19 on March 15 and was admitted to Sarawak General Hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU) for respiratory distress.

“It’s a real shock when I heard the news. Only last night, I was told he was doing well. I was told all his vital signs were ok.

“But this morning, when I was told he had passed on, I was really, really shocked,” he said.

The news of the death had gone viral on social media since this morning.

Meanwhile, the state disaster management committee said 193 close contacts of the deceased have been traced and are on home quarantine.

It said Sarawak today recorded 11 new cases.

The committee said there are six from Kuching, three from Limbang and one each from Betong and Lawas.

“They are now being treated at the three designated hospitals – Sarawak General Hospital, Sibu Hospital and Miri Hospital,” it said.

The pastor’s death comes as the country goes into a nationwide movement control order from tomorrow until March 31.

It is the first time such an order, under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 and Police Act 1967, has been issued.

Covid-19 cases rose sharply on Sunday, with 190 new infections, and 125 reported yesterday.

The are now 553 cases in total, of which 511 are still in hospital. – March 17, 2020.