by RAHIMI YUNUS / pic by HUSSEIN SHAHARUDDIN

ACTIVE Covid-19 cases in Malaysia crossed the 1,000 mark at 1,011 cases yesterday with 115 new daily cases — mostly in Sabah.

Health DG Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said from the 115 new cases, 98 came from Sabah, 11 cases in Selangor and one case each in Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, Negri Sembilan, Kedah, Terengganu and Labuan.

Of the new cases, 112 cases were locally transmitted and three were imported cases.

Fifty-four patients recovered yesterday for a total of 9,889 discharged cases or 89.62% of the total number of cases.

Dr Noor Hisham said eight patients are being treated in the intensive care unit, of which five require ventilators, while no death due to Covid-19 was recorded yesterday, thus fatalities remained at 134 or 1.22% of total cases.

Meanwhile, the government will implement the Targeted Enhanced Movement Control Order (TEMCO) in Lahad Datu, Tawau, Kunak and Semporna districts in Sabah starting today until Oct 12, involving 962,661 people.

Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said from Sept 1 to 27, the four districts recorded a total of 1,195 Covid-19 cases comprising 241 cases in Lahad Datu, Tawau (634), Kunak (65) and Semporna (255).

“Considering the total number of cases, the government on the advice of the health minister has decided to implement TEMCO administratively in these areas,” Ismail Sabri said in a statement yesterday.

He said TEMCO is implemented in those districts to enable targeted case tracing activities over 14 days.

Under TEMCO, all residents are not allowed to go out of the areas, while non-residents and visitors are barred from entry as all entrances are closed.

All business activities are ordered to stop except for essential services and a medical base will be established in the areas.

Ismail Sabri said the Royal Malaysian Police, Malaysian Armed Forces, Malaysian Civil Defence Force, Malaysian Volunteer Corps Department, local authorities and officers will control the entire area involved to ensure compliance.

Separately, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah expressed concerns about the rising number of Covid-19 cases of late and advised the people to take good care of their health and adhere to the new norms set by the government, according to a statement issued by Istana Negara yesterday.