MALAYSIA reported seven Covid-19 cases today, but only one was a local transmission, said Director-General of Health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

Of the seven cases, six are imported involving three Malaysians and three foreigners.

No new fatalities were reported, keeping the death toll at 125. Forty-seven patients have recovered as of noon today. 

These latest figures bring the total case count to 9,070, with 8,775 recoveries. 

There are currently 170 active cases.

Dr Noor Hisham said no new clusters have been detected in the past 24 hours. 

He said 4,198 people linked to the Sivagangga cluster of infections have been screened, which encompasses Kedah, Perlis and Penang. 

He said the Sivagangga cluster, which started in Kedah, could be caused by a variant of the Covid-19 virus that has been identified as a superspreader in Egypt and Pakistan.

The Health Ministry said this cluster of infections, which started from a nasi kandar shop owner in Jitra, Kedah, had been spreading “very quickly” compared to other clusters in the country.

Forty-three patients have been determined to be in this cluster, said Dr Noor Hisham.

He said close-contact screening and active contact-tracing are ongoing, and areas connected to the cluster are being sanitised. 

The six imported cases reported today are from China, Yemen, Myanmar, Japan, Pakistan and Mexico. 

The single local transmission was identified in a workplace in Negri Sembilan. The patient had travelled to Indonesia for work and had entered Malaysia on May 7. 

The patient is asymptomatic and has been admitted to Tuanku Ja’afar Hospital. 

As of today, two Covid-19 patients need intensive care and one of them need respiratory support. – August 8, 2020.