Selangor Journal
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah during a press briefing on the latest Covid-19 update at the Health Ministry in Putrajaya, on March 25, 2020. — Picture by BERNAMA

Over 2,000 Covid-19 cases in Malaysia, death toll rises to 23

By Ida Nadirah Ibrahim

SUBANG JAYA, March 22 — A total of 235 new positive Covid-19 cases has been reported as of noon today, bringing the total number in Malaysia to 2,031.

Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said based on preliminary investigations, 60 of the 235 new cases were linked to the tabligh assembly cluster at Jamek Sri Petaling Mosque, while the remaining 175 cases are from other clusters currently under investigation.

He said 16 patients had recovered and been discharged today, raising the number of fully recovered cases to 215 so far.

“A total of 45 positive Covid-19 cases are still being treated at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and 32 of them require respiratory aid,” he told a press briefing on Covid-19 in Putrajaya today.

Dr Noor Hisham said another four more Covid-19 related fatalities were reported as of this evening, where the initial two had been announced last late and earlier this morning, bringing the death toll in the country to 23.

Dr Noor Hisham said the latest four deaths are as follow:

  • Case 780: A 76-year-old male Malaysian citizen. The deceased was an attendee of the tabligh gathering and had received treatment at the Sultan Ismail Petra Hospital in Kelantan from March 18. The patient was pronounced dead on March 25 at 4.35 pm.
  • Case 1,588: A 63-year-old male Malaysian citizen, who had attended the tabligh gathering. The deceased had received treatment at the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Kedah, on March 23. The patient was pronounced dead on March 26 at 4.00 am.
  • Case 1,797: A 48-year-old male Malaysian citizen with a history of chronic illness. The deceased had also attended the tabligh gathering and was in close contact with a positive Covid-19 case who was also present at the gathering. He had received treatment at the Enche’ Besar Hajjah Khalsom Hospital in Johor, and was declared dead on March 23, at 8.15 pm.
  • Case 1,840: A 62-year-old male Malaysian citizen from Kajang. The patient had a history of chronic illness and was treated at the Raja Perempuan Bainun in Ipoh, Perak, from March 23. The deceased was declared dead on March 25, at 12.37 pm. His case is under investigation and being traced with other Covid-19 clusters.

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