Covid-19: 429 cases detected among flood victims, says Health DG

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 429 Covid-19 cases were detected among flood victims involving 11 cases at temporary evacuation centres (PPS) as of 3pm Monday (Dec 27), says the Health Ministry.

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the first cluster involving transmissions among flood victims, at a PPS in Bentong, was reported today.

“The index case for the Karak Setia cluster is a Malaysian woman who tested positive on Dec 19 through the screening of individuals with symptoms. The case started with symptoms of fever, cough, flu, and the loss of sense of smell since Dec 18,” he said.

Up to noon today, he said, 104 individuals from this cluster had been screened with 10 testing positive. Interaction between those housed at the evacuation centre was suspected as being the cause of transmission.

All positive cases and close contacts have been isolated from the rest of the evacuees.

Dr Noor Hisham said 99 infectious disease cases were also detected among flood victims, involving 51 cases of acute respiratory infection (ARI), 39 cases of skin disease and nine cases of acute gastroenteritis.

Meanwhile, a total of 2,757 new Covid-19 infections were reported today, taking the country’s cumulative cases to 2,743,936.

Dr Noor Hisham said of the new cases, only 40 were in categories three, four and five while the rest were in categories one and two.

“There were 2,594 local transmissions and 163 imported cases, besides 297 cases in the intensive care unit, while 169 require respiratory support,” he said in a statement.

There were also 4,620 recoveries, he said, adding that this brings the total number of recoveries to 2,669,654.

Dr Noor Hisham said seven new Covid-19 clusters were identified overnight, taking the number of active clusters to 223, adding that the country’s Rt (infectivity rate) as of yesterday was 0.90.

He also said Malaysia recorded a 18.6% drop in Covid-19 infections in the 51st epidemiological week (ME) from Dec 19 to Dec 25, from 27,698 cases (50th ME) to 22,554 cases (51st ME), with the average of active cases also dropping 13% to 48,218 cases in the 51st ME.

However, he said fatality cases increased by 15.2% with 242 deaths reported in the 51st ME compared with 211 in the 50th ME, reversing the downward trend recorded for fatalities for seven straight weeks between the 43rd ME and 50th ME.

“The average number of cases requiring treatment in the ICU showed a decrease of 12% from 316 cases (50th ME) to 277 cases (51st ME).

“The average number of cases that require respiratory assistance also showed a decrease of 10.6% from 140 cases (50th ME) to 125 cases (51st ME),” he said.

He said as of Dec 25, there were a cumulative of 6,101 clusters reported with 223 active clusters, a decrease of 11.5% compared with the 50th ME. – Bernama