MALAYSIA today reported a record number of new Covid-19 infections with 3,309 cases; a day before the return of the two-week movement-control order (MCO) on six of the country’s worst-hit states.

The new infections surpassed the previous record of 3,027 cases reported on January 7. 

Director-general of health Dr Noor Hisham Abduallah said that of the new cases, 3,303 were local transmissions and six were imported cases.

Selangor once again reported the highest number of new cases by state with 1,007 infections, followed by Johor with 442 cases and Sabah with 409 cases. 

There were also four deaths, raising the toll of fatalities from Covid-19 to 559, out of a national caseload of 141,533 infections.

Of that, 30,390 cases are currently active.

Noor Hisham said 825 or 81.9% of cases in Selangor were reported from clusters and active close contact tracings. 

He also said 439 of today’s cases were from clusters related to lockup, Immigration detention centres and prisons. 

Meanwhile, Selangor and Perak reported two deaths each.

Three of the four victims had underlying medical conditions. 

Of the 30,390 active cases, 190 are admitted in the ICU and 83 require breathing assistance. – January 12, 2021.