by NUR HAZIQAH A MALEK / pic by TMR FILE

TWENTY-THREE cases related to variants of concern (VOCs) were identified from a continuous genomic surveillance between June 3 and June 8, where 19 were of the Beta variant and four of the Delta.

In a Facebook post, Health DG Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah (picture) said the Beta variant cases were reported in Selangor, Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, Kedah, Perak and Perlis, while the Delta variant was detected in Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur.

Dr Noor Hisham said the cumulative number of Covid-19 cases categorised as VOCs and variants of interest (VOIs) was 161 cases as of Wednesday.

Of the total, 145 cases were VOCs while 16 cases were listed as VOIs.

The total VOC cases reported were 123 of the Beta variant, 13 cases of the Delta variant, nine cases of the Alpha variant, while the VOI cases registered were 12 cases of the Theta variant, three cases of the Eta variant and one case of the Kappa variant.

“The Health Ministry (MoH) will continue to strengthen infectious disease control activities including continuing genomic surveillance for SARS-CoV-2, increasing Covid-19 screening tests, conducting contact detection and case isolation, as well as other public health measures to curb the spread of these variants in the community,” he said.

On daily cases, Malaysia recorded 5,671 new Covid-19 cases yesterday, with Selangor recording the highest number at 1,510, followed by Kuala Lumpur (769) and Sarawak (631).

Active cases now stand at 79,848, while the cumulative total of confirmed cases stand at 639,562.

As of yesterday, 911 patients have been admitted to the intensive care units (ICUs) where 462 require the ventilator.

Seventy-three fatalities were also recorded yesterday, while 7,325 patients have recovered from Covid-19.

MoH also recorded that between May 13 and June 10, a total of 60 clusters were associated with Hari Raya Aidilfitri (58) and Hari Gawai (2) celebrations.

“Of the 13,023 individuals screened in this cluster, 3,511 cases were confirmed, while 20 deaths have been reported and to-date, 11 cases are still under treatment in the ICUs,” Dr Noor Hisham said.

He said the increasing cases and deaths reported from festive clusters are serious and worrying due to its occurrence in a short period of time.

“If the community is still complacent and does not learn from clusters caused by visits and interstate activities during festive seasons, a sudden increase in cases can recur in our country.

“It is the responsibility of all parties to protect the vulnerable, especially the elderly in their hometowns by not exposing them to the virus,” he said.

Separately, the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) will be enforced in various localities in Pahang, Johor, Sabah, Sarawak and Terengganu from June 12 until 25.

Meanwhile, several EMCO in various areas in Terengganu, Perak, and Sabah ended today. Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said a total of 907 individuals were detained on Wednesday for breaching the standard operating procedures of the MCO.

“Out of the total, 877 individuals have been compounded, 28 remanded and two were guaranteed,” he said in his statement yesterday.