Covid-19: Malaysia records highest number of deaths today

Sarawak recorded 433 new Covid-19 cases and one death today as the nation’s death toll reached a record high.

May 17, 2021

By S. Harrish
Sarawak recorded 433 new Covid-19 cases and one death today as the nation’s death toll reached a record high.

State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) said 268 cases (61.89%) were detected in Miri, Kapit, Sibu, Kuching and Belaga.

Sarawak’s total number of cases is now 38,816 cases while the death toll stands at 225.

Miri had the most cases with 69 infections followed by Kapit (61), Sibu (48), Kuching (47), Belaga (43), Bintulu (29), Pakan (25), Selangau (16), Samarahan (14), Bukit Mabong (10), Daro (9), Sarikei (7), Kanowit (6), Pusa (5), Sri Aman (5), Bau (5), Mukah (5), Subis (4), Song (4), Beluru (4), Sebauh (3), and Serian (3).

Matu, Tatau, Tebedu and Betong recorded two cases each while Tanjung Manis, Asajaya and Meradong recorded one case each.

SDMC said only 58 out of the 433 cases showed symptoms during screening.

The sole fatality in Sarawak involved a 70-year-old who was in the quarantine at a low-risk patients treatment centre (PKRC) in Sibu.

He was asymptomatic and was allowed to return home to continue the remaining quarantine days but he later reported breathing difficulties and was sent to Bintulu Hospital, where he passed away on May 15.

The state health department also declared three new Covid-19 clusters today.

The clusters are Jalan Sultan Tengah Cluster in Kuching, Stunggang Melayu Cluster in Lundu and Jalan Jambusan Cluster in Bau.

SDMC said the Jalan Jambusan Cluster started from a Mother’s Day family gathering at a residence at Jalan Jambusan in Bau.

It was attended by 26 family members from Bau and Kuching districts. Fifty people have been screened with 17 positive cases so far.

The Jalan Sultan Tengah Cluster is a workplace cluster involving employees of a resort in Santubong.

A total of 27 people have been screened with six positive cases so far.

The Stunggang Melayu Cluster was detected in Kpg Stunggang Melayu in Lundu.

SDMC said 121 people have been screened with eight positive cases so far.

Meanwhile, Malaysia registered 4,446 new Covid-19 cases and 45 deaths today.

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the total number of infections now stands at 474,556, with 43,506 active cases.

He said there were 522 patients in the ICU, with 273 on ventilators.

On the fatalities, he said 44 were Malaysians.

All 45 were aged between 36 and 90. Only four did not have existing medical conditions.

The record deaths raise the nation’s death toll to 1,947.

Selangor had the highest number of cases again with 1,650, followed by Sarawak (433), Johor (391), Kelantan (343), Kuala Lumpur (297), Negeri Sembilan (243), Kedah (236), Perak (203), Terengganu (201), Penang (159), Pahang (139), Malacca (80), Sabah (60) and Putrajaya (11).

Labuan and Perlis did not record any new cases today.––The New Sarawak