MALAYSIA recorded 629 new Covid-19 infections in the past 24 hours, with 489 or 77.7% of cases coming from Sabah.

Six deaths were also reported, bringing the national death toll to 176.

This is the 10th consecutive day the Borneo state has recorded the highest number of daily infections.

Health Director-General Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said of the new cases, 627 were local transmissions while two were imported cases. The total number of infections to date stands at 18,758.

Of the 627 locally transmitted cases, he said, 498 cases involved Malaysians and 64 involved foreigners, with 16 cases involving those who had recently travelled to Sabah.

Five of the six fatalities were locals in Sabah while one death of a foreigner was reported at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre in Selangor. The dead were five men and a woman.

All patients had a history of chronic illnesses and one had heart-related issues.

Dr Noor Hisham said 245 patients recovered from the virus, taking the total number of recoveries to 12,259 or 65.4% of total cases.

He also said there are 6,323 active cases currently, with 99 in intensive care units (ICU) and 31 on respiratory assistance. – October 16, 2020.