MALAYSIA recorded 71 new Covid-19 cases today and two more deaths, said the Health Ministry.

However, the nation continued to record more recoveries than positive cases, with 90 patients being discharged today, taking the total number of discharged patients to 3,542.

The number of active cases stand at 1,966.

The total number of cases now stands at 5,603 while the death toll stands at 95.

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said of those still admitted in hospitals, 42 are being treated in intensive care units, with 21 needing respiratory assistance.

On the two latest deaths, Dr Noor Hisham said the first case involved a 32-year-old woman from Johor, who was also a medical personnel with the Health Ministry.

She has a history of high blood pressure and was a close contact of a case from the Muar specialist centre cluster. She was admitted to Hospital Enche’ Besar Hajjah Khalsom in Johor on April 6, and was confirmed dead at 12.36am today.

Her death is the third Covid-19 death involving a health personnel, he said.

The second victim was a 67-year-old man who had a history of medical issues.

He was a close contact of a patient from the Bali cluster, and had been treated at Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan in Pahang from April 8.

He was confirmed dead at 11.48pm last night. – April 23, 2020.