THE number of Covid-19 infections in Malaysia breached the 16,000 mark with another 563 cases reported in the past 24 hours, said Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

As in the past few days, Sabah recorded the highest number of infections at 291, with two more deaths, making it the fifth consecutive day that all fatalities have come from the Borneo state.

The total number of infections to date stands at 16,220, while the national death toll is 159.

Noor Hisham said Penang recorded the second-highest number of infections at 141 after Sabah, followed by Selangor at 69.

All 141 cases in Penang come from the Remand Cluster, which involves Penang Prison.

The two fatalities today were recorded at Tawau Hospital and Tuaran Hospital.

The first victim, a 85-year-old woman, had a history of chronic illnesses. She suffered from heart-related issues, high blood pressure and chronic lung infection.

The second victim was a 48-year-old foreigner.

Noor Hisham said the number of patients requiring intensive care has risen to 98, with those needing to be put on ventilator support remaining at 29.

Of the 562 locally transmitted cases, he said 498 cases involved Malaysians and 64 cases involved foreigners, with 10 cases involving those who had recently travelled to Sabah.

Noor Hisham added that, up to noon, the number of Covid-19 cases with origins that can be traced stood at 363 cases. – October 12, 2020.

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