MALAYSIA inched closer to 100,000 Covid-19 infections after 2,062 cases were recorded in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases so far to 97,389.

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said in the past 24 hours, 911 patients have recovered from the virus and been discharged from hospitals.

The total number of recoveries from the coronavirus now stands at 79,304 but there are currently 17,646 active cases.

Selangor recorded 1,014 new cases – the highest number by state – followed by Kuala Lumpur (504), Sabah (252) and Johor (167).

The country also recorded one death of a foreign national, which brings the death toll to 439.

The deceased was a 69-year-old man who died in Hospital Labuan.

Out of the total cases today, four were imported and another 120 cases were related to clusters in prisons and immigration detention centers involving Tembok Gajah cluster (88), Penjara Jalan Harapan cluster (24), Seberang Perai cluster (3) and Tembok cluster (2).

To date, there are 111 Covid-19 positive cases being treated in the intensive care unit, of which 51 cases require respiratory assistance. – December 22, 2020.