Country records 14 positive cases in one day, total now stands at 50
PUTRAJAYA: Fourteen new cases of Covid-19 were reported in the country as of noon yesterday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 50.
Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah
Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the first wave of Covid-19 infections in Malaysia comprised 22 cases, all of whom have since recovered.
“After 11 days without any new cases being reported, the second wave of Covid-19 began on Feb 27. For the second wave, as of March 4, there have been 28 positive cases of Covid-19,” he told a press conference at the Ministry of Health, here yesterday.
Dr Noor Hisham added that in the second wave, a new Covid-19 cluster was found involving those who came into contact with case number 26, namely cases 31 to 50.
He said investigations showed that 215 individuals were found to have come into close contact with case number 26.
“Out of the total number of close contacts, 16 cases were found positive for Covid-19, 19 were negative and 180 are still awaiting test results.”
Dr Noor Hisham said investigations on the cluster were ongoing, and that the ministry is calling on all parties to remain calm and cooperate by providing accurate information when identified and contacted as close contacts.
“All parties are urged not to spread any information that may cause anxiety among the public,” he said.
He also said the ministry in collaboration with the private sector would be offering a Covid-19 detection service to members of the public who wish to be tested, with the charges to be imposed by the private sector.
An official announcement on this would be made soon, he added.
Meanwhile, Malaysians staying or arriving in Indonesia are urged to register with the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta following the latest development on the Covid-19 outbreak, with the republic detected to be one of the countries affected by the virus.
“Malaysians in Indonesia who have not registered with the embassy can do so at https://goo.gl/ixYVfy, or email to [email protected],” the Malaysian Embassy said in a statement.
Three days ago, Indonesian President Joko Widodo announced that two Indonesians had tested positive for Covid-19, making them the first two confirmed cases of the disease in the republic which has a population of more than 270 million people.
Jokowi, as Joko is popularly known, said the two citizens were a 64-year-old woman and her daughter, 31, from Depok, a city near Jakarta, who were reported to have met a Japanese citizen in Indonesia on Feb 14.
The Japanese citizen then left for Malaysia where he was confirmed positive with Covid-19.
“Malaysians are also advised to abide by instructions and to refer to the relevant information issued by local authorities,” the embassy statement said.
Based on records, more than two million Malaysians visit Indonesia annually. – Bernama