by HARIZAH KAMEL / pic by RAZAK GHAZALI

MALAYSIA recorded 919 new cases yesterday, a slight increase compared to the number of cases reported the day before.

Health DG Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah (picture) said, currently, the country’s total number of Covid-19 cases is 43,791, while the total number of active cases is 11,419.

Sabah topped the list with 318 cases, followed by Negri Sembilan with 240 cases — of which 236 cases were from existing clusters — Selangor (174), Penang (63) and Kuala Lumpur (49).

There were 996 recovered cases, bringing the cumulative number of recovered cases to 32,069.

As at noon yesterday, 92 cases were treated in intensive care units, of which 35 were intubated. One casualty was reported, bringing the country’s total number of deaths due to Covid-19 to 303.

Dr Noor Hisham announced that three clusters ended yesterday, namely the Pulau Cluster in Sabah, the Bah Rose Cluster in Penang and Bah Ketil Cluster in Kedah. However, a new cluster was identified in Kota Kinabalu which is known as the Teluk Cluster.

Additionally, he reminded Malaysians that Deepavali will be celebrated simultaneously with World Diabetes Day tomorrow.

“In our fight against Covid-19, it should be remembered that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) also need to be controlled. To date, there is a total of 3.8 million adults with diabetes in Malaysia,” he said.

Separately, Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the police arrested 431 individuals for violating the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO), of which, 413 individuals were compounded, 17 were remanded and one individual was on police bail.

On Ops Benteng, 31 illegal immigrants and one agent were detained, while two vehicles were seized in an operation held nationwide.

A total of 448 individuals arrived at the country’s international gateways and 9,961 individuals were undergoing mandatory quarantine at 68 hotels and 21 premises.

Fifty-one sanitation operations were carried out at 12 states, bringing the total number of operations since March 30 to 11,346 covering 137 zones.

The Enhanced MCO (EMCO) in Kampung Pengaraban, Kampung Tanjung Kapor and Kampung Landung Ayang in Kudat, Sabah, was extended for another 14 days from Nov 13 to 26.

Ismail Sabri reiterated that every decision to continue or terminate the EMCO is based on the advice of the Health Ministry.

He also said long-distance married couples are allowed to cross districts or states, provided that they have obtained permission from the police.