THE number of reported deaths declined for a sixth consecutive day as Malaysia logged 109 Covid-19 related fatalities as of midnight.

The latest figures took the death toll since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic to 26,565.

According to the Health Ministry’s GitHub raw data repository, 33 of the 109 deaths were classified as dead on arrival (DOA). The total deaths recorded in this category now stands at 5,340.

Meanwhile, only two deaths were reported to have occurred yesterday, while the remaining 107 were backlog cases that were previously unreported. These would be backtracked to the actual day the deaths took place.

The figure is the sum total of the deaths that occur on the day plus backlog reports of deaths, or deaths that have just been confirmed by health authorities to be due to Covid-19 upon completion of investigation.

The data also showed that one victim, who succumbed to the disease in Kuala Lumpur, was fully vaccinated.

Penang saw a spike in cases, with18 fatalities reported in the state yesterday. Four of the deaths were DOA cases.

Other states reporting deaths were Johor (11), Perak (10), Sarawak and Terengganu (nine each), Kedah (eight), Kelantan (five), Pahang and Kuala Lumpur (four each), Perlis (three), Malacca and Negri Sembilan (one each).

Fatalities in Selangor and Sabah dropped, with both states reported 13 deaths each. Seven and four DOA cases were recorded in Selangor and Sabah respectively. DOA cases were also reported in Sarawak (five), Johor (four), Kelantan (three), and Kedah, Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis and Terengganu (one each).

There were no coronavirus related deaths reported in Labuan or Putrajaya.

Today’s total is the lowest figure reported since July 25, when 92 fatalities were recorded.

According to the ministry’s CovidNow website, the national average deaths per 100,000 population is 4.7. Penang has the highest with 12.3 deaths per population of 100,000.

The seven-day average for deaths was 75 cases.

The active Covid-19 caseload further dropped to 155,823 after Malaysia reported 15,396 recoveries against 10,915 new cases.

Of these cases, 128,350 patients – or 82.4% – are in home quarantine, 18,088 (11.6%) are at low-risk quarantine centres and 8,495 are (5.5%) in hospitals.

Of those admitted in hospitals, 890 are in intensive care, 485 of which require respiratory support. – October 3, 2021.