THE Health Ministry reported 858 new Covid-19 cases yesterday, the sixth consecutive day the number of daily infections stayed in the three-digit range. 

The new cases brought the cumulative number of infections since the start of the pandemic to 5,021,242. 

Three new Covid-19 fatalities were logged – one each in Johor, Penang and Perak – taking the death toll in the country to 36,824. 

Of the new infections, Selangor posted the most number of cases with 348, followed by Kuala Lumpur (107) and Malacca (69). 

Sarawak registered 58 new cases, Kedah (55), Penang (47), Negri Sembilan (35), Perak (32), Kelantan (26), Sabah (22), Terengganu (15), Johor (15), Putrajaya (13), Pahang (11), Perlis (4) and Labuan (1). 

Active cases declined to 14,590 after 1,119 patients recovered from the illness.

Among the active cases, 13,685 people were in home quarantine (93.7%) and 905 in hospital (6.3%). 

There were 46 patients in intensive care, 23 of whom required respiratory assistance. – December 23, 2022.