Covid-19: Malaysia’s total cases cross 6,000-mark, 70% recovered

By Xavier Kong

MALAYSIA now has over 6,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19, of which 69.5% have recovered, according to Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

There were 84 new recoveries today, bringing the total number to 4,171 total recoveries. There were also 57 new cases reported, of which 25 were imported cases. This brings the total to 6,002 confirmed cases in Malaysia.

Of these, 1,729 are active transmission cases being treated in hospitals. Among these cases, 36 are being treated in intensive care units, of which 14 require ventilator support. Two more deaths were reported, bringing the death toll to 102.

Dr Noor Hisham also noted that traditional complementary medicine (TCM) should not be taken as a cure for Covid-19, but can be seen as a means for a more holistic approach to recovery.

On the topic of border control and movement control, he said border control in screening arrivals to Malaysia remains a high priority, but there will likely be loosened restrictions in movement control moving forward, with guidelines in the works and set to be “announced soon.”

When asked about undocumented migrants being brought to Immigration, Dr Noor Hisham shared that the responsibility of the Ministry of Health is to ensure these migrants do not carry Covid-19. Following a 14-day quarantine and two tests performed at the start and end of the quarantine, those that test negative will see further action decided upon by the National Security Council (NSC).

“The priority is to ensure they do not carry the virus. Anything after that depends on the NSC,” he said. – April 30, 2020