MALAYSIA reported 12 Covid-19 deaths today, the highest number in a single day since the pandemic began, said Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

The last time the country reported double-digit deaths was on October 23 when 10 people died from the coronavirus.

All 12 fatalities today were from Sabah, comprising seven Malaysians and four foreigners.

The director-general of health said the number of daily cases hit four digits for the second time with 1,054 new infections detected in the last 24 hours, pushing the total to 34,393.

He said the bulk of cases had come from Sabah with 678 infections.  

“A total of 310 cases reported were related to prison clusters and at temporary detention centres.  

“Of that number, the Rumah Merah cluster accounted for 229 cases,” he said at a press conference in Putrajaya today.

Among the 12 reported dead was a 14-year-old foreign national, who had suffered from meningitis and tuberculosis.

Noor Hisham said Covid-19 could have added to his already complicated health problems.

Meanwhile, Noor Hisham said that the Klang Valley had recorded 150 cases, where Selangor’s 124 cases is the second highest number reported by state today.

“Labuan recorded 81 positive cases today. 

“These five states account for 909 cases in total. This is due to the screenings being carried out in states still under the conditional movement-control order.”

He said that of the 1,040 cases nationwide, seven are visitors returning from Sabah.

“This brings the total number of cases reported to have a history of travel to Sabah since September 20 to 478 cases.”

As of today, 94 people are in intensive care, of whom 32 require respiratory assistance.

There have now been 263 Covid-19 deaths in Malaysia since the start of the pandemic. – November 3, 2020.