COVID-19 infections rose by 217 cases today, with 41 students of a tahfiz school testing positive, bringing the total number of infections to 3,333 cases. 

Another three fatalities were reported in the past 24 hours, taking the death toll to 53, said Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

Two of the cases were two elderly Malaysian women with a history of chronic illness such as heart disease. 

The third case was of a 52-year-old man who was receiving treatment at the Tuanku Jaafar Hospital in Negeri Sembilan. He was pronounced dead at 7.55am today.

Of the total number of cases, Dr Noor Hisham said 58 cases are linked to the tabligh cluster.

Forty-four from the tabligh cluster are being treated at the Canselor Tuanku Muhriz UKM Hospital in Cheras. This includes the 41 tahfiz students. 

Meanwhile, a total of 138 healthcare workers tested positive for Covid-19. However, none of the workers was infected while caring for virus patients.

About 42% or 58 cases were linked to a wedding do attended by an Individual who attended the tabligh in Sri Petaling.

Apart from that, 14 cases or 10.1% were linked to Severe Acute Respiratory Infection patients and patients with mild symptoms who did not make their status known.

Nine other healthcare workers contracted the virus from family members who tested positive, four from friends, six from overseas travel and two from having visited the tabligh in Sri Petaling.

Dr Noor Hisham also added that 42 cases are still under investigation.

Of the positive cases, 108 are being treated at the intensive care unit, with 54 needing respiratory support.

A total of 60 patients have recovered and discharged from the hospitals. This brings the total number of recoveries to 827. – April 3, 2020.