According to the genomic surveillance performed between May 10 and May 14, 7 new variants had been identified

by NUR HAZIQAH A MALEK / pic by TMR FILE

MALAYSIA yesterday recorded 4,446 new Covid-19 positive cases, adding to the number of active cases to 43,506 while also recording its highest fatality in a day with 45 deaths.

Out of the new cases, 4,443 were local transmissions, while three were imported cases. Out of the total, 522 cases were admitted into the intensive care unit (ICU) with 273 cases requiring breathing assistance.

The highest number was recorded in Selangor with 1,650 cases, followed by Sarawak (433) and Johor (391).

Health DG Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the fatalities involved 20 cases in Selangor; four each in Kuala Lumpur (KL) and Kelantan; three each in Kedah, Perak and Johor; two each in Negri Sembilan and Melaka; and one each in Pahang, Penang, Sarawak and Sabah.

According to the genomic surveillance that was performed on 10 Covid-19 samples between May 10 and May 14, seven new variants had been identified.

“Four of the local cases were infected by the South African B.1.351 variant which was identified in KL, while three non-locals were infected with the Indian B.1.617 variant (sublineage B.1.617.2),” he said.

To date, the total number of cases infected by the South African variant have gone up to 66, while the latter is up to five.

Meanwhile, with the expiry of 1,417 clusters and the addition of 14 new clusters, active clusters now stand at 484. As for recovery, 2,784 patients had recovered from Covid-19.

On Sunday, 569 individuals were detained for violating Movement Control Order’s (MCO) standard operating procedures.

Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said out of the total, 466 individuals were compounded, while 103 were remanded.

“The offences included failure to record customers’ details (127), failure to wear face masks (103) and failure to comply with physical distancing (65), among others,” he said in a statement yesterday.

In addition to the current MCO, the Enhanced MCO (EMCO) will be placed starting tomorrow until June 1 on 28 divisions in Kota Setar, Kedah, as well as Mukim Gunong, Bachok and Kampung Pauh Lima, Mukim Banggu, Kota Baru, Kelantan.

Another division in Kelantan, Kampung Pauh Lima, also recorded 74 positive cases from 227 screening tests, and as such will undergo EMCO for the same period as above.

In addition, the EMCO for Taman Tanah Putih Baru, Kuantan, Pahang, was extended until May 25, while Rumah Panjang Dinggai, in Sarikei, Sarawak until May 26.

Meanwhile, the EMCO implemented in Kampung Meripoh and Kota Bahagia, Muadzam Shah, Rompin, Pahang, ended yesterday, following the downtrend in cases and treatment of positive cases.