COVID-19 cases in Malaysia are fast approaching the 150,000 mark with the nation reporting 2,232 new infections in the last 24-hours.

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said 138,224 people have been infected with Covid-19 in the country.

Selangor once again reported the highest daily tally, with 557 new infections, or 25%, of today’s total, followed by Johor with 396 cases (17.7%) and Sabah with 374 cases (16.8%).

Dr Noor Hisham said 404, or 72.5%, cases in Selangor were detected from clusters and contact tracing.

He said the four deaths – three in Selangor and one in Sabah – reported in the last 24 hours brought the national total to 555. 

The three deceased in Selangor had diabetes.

Malaysia reported 1,006 recoveries today, taking the total to 109,115.

A total of 28,554 people are being treated for Covid-19 now, of which 187 are in intensive care and 87 of them require breathing assistance.

With Covid-19 cases in Malaysia on the rise, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said Malaysia will reinstitute the much stricter movement control order (MCO) in six states from January 13 to 26.

Muhyiddin said three levels of curbs will be enforced in the country based on the Covid-19 situation:

* MCO in Penang, Selangor, Federal Territories (Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya & Labuan), Malacca, Johor and Sabah;

* The less strict conditional MCO in Pahang, Perak, Negri Sembilan, Kedah, Terengganu and Kelantan; and,

* Recovery MCO in Perlis and Sarawak.

The prime minister said the government will re-evaluate the level of curbs in two weeks. – January 11, 2021.