by S BIRRUNTHA/ pic by BERNAMA

THE Health Ministry (MoH) recorded the highest number of Covid-19 recoveries yesterday with 236 patients discharged from hospitals.

Health DG Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the cumulative number of cases recovered and discharged increased to 1,241 cases, 32.72% of the total case.

As for new cases, there were 131 new cases of Covid-19 reported yesterday, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 3,793.

“To date, 102 Covid-19 positive cases are being treated in the intensive care unit. Of these, 54 need respiratory assistance,” he said in a live press conference yesterday.

One Covid-19 death was reported yesterday, increasing the death tally to 62.

“The diseased, case No 3,663, was a 67-year-old male. He had a background of diabetes and hypertension and a close contact history with several Covid-19 positive index cases from the Sri Petaling tabligh gathering in Kuala Lumpur (KL).

“He was treated at the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital in Terengganu on March 29 and was pronounced dead at 10.22am yesterday,” he added.

Meanwhile, Dr Noor Hisham also informed that large mass gatherings have indeed had a profound impact in increasing cases of Covid-19 in Malaysia.

He said from the result of the investigation, two new Covid-19 clusters were found which were closely related to mass gatherings.

The first cluster was identified as the religious conference which took place in a church in Kuching, Sarawak. So far, a total of 83 people were confirmed to be Covid-19 positive from this cluster.

Meanwhile, the second cluster is from a wedding ceremony in Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor, from which 88 cases were positively confirmed.

Dr Noor Hisham also urged the public not to blame or discriminate against any patient or group associated with the Covid-19 infection cluster.

“We should not stigmatise them. What is important is that we help detect and treat Covid-19 infections among them who are involved, their family, as well as their contacts.

“Following the Movement Control Order, I also urge that each individual play their role in helping the government to control the spread of the Covid-19 infection,” he added.

Separately, Dr Noor Hisham said MoH will be mass testing for Covid-19, focusing on high-risk groups, as it is the priority at the moment.

This includes those who attended public gatherings, like participants of the Sri Petaling tabligh gathering, tahfiz school students and those who returned from overseas.

Additionally, he also advised the public to avoid close contact with animals to prevent Covid-19 from spreading.

The DG said if these animals are infected, there is a possibility that it could spread to humans. “We need to take the necessary precautions and protect ourselves,” Dr Noor Hisham said when asked if MoH would be screening animals for Covid-19 infections.

It was reported that a tiger in the US, named Nadia, is the first case of an animal infected with Covid-19.

As of yesterday, Selangor recorded the highest cases of Covid-19 with 970 cases, followed by KL (640) and Johor (468).