by BERNAMA / pic by BERNAMA

Some 130 COVID-19 new positive cases and three deaths were reported today, pushing the total number of cases to 2,161 and the cumulative death toll to 26.

Director-General of Health Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, who made the announcement, said the 24th person (case 1,056) who succumbed to the disease was a 35-year-old Malaysian man who had a history of travel to Indonesia.

“He was admitted to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital on March 18 and died at 9.30 pm on March 26 (yesterday),” he told a press conference on the COVID-19 daily update.

Dr Noor Hisham said the 25th person (case 2,032) who died was an 83-year-old Malaysian man with chronic ailments. He was admitted to the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh on March 25 and died at 6.55 pm yesterday.

“The 26th person (case 1,321) who died was a 53-year-old Malaysian man. He was a close contact of case 1,309. He was treated at the Sungai Buloh Hospital from March 22 and died at 10.30 am today,” he said.

Dr Noor Hisham said 54 COVID-19 positive cases are under treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and 34 of these cases are ventilator-dependent.

He also said that 44 patients recovered and were discharged today, bringing the total number of recovered patients to 259.

Referring to the situation in Kluang, Johor, Dr Noor Hisham said 88 of the total number of positive cases are from the district.

“Up to noon today, Kluang district reported 88 COVID-19 positive cases, 74 of which are from  Kampung Dato’ Ibrahim Majid and Bandar Baharu Dato’ Ibrahim Majid in Simpang Renggam,” he said.

Yesterday, Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced the enforcement of Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) in the two residential areas from midnight last night to April 9.

Dr Noor Hisham said the EMCO will enable house-to-house active case detection and disinfection of the area.

“The Health Ministry is targeting to secure 300 test samples daily from today, with priority given to close contacts, individuals with symptoms and high-risk groups.

“The cleaning and disinfection of public places will be undertaken with the collaboration of the Housing and Local Government Ministry and Simpang Renggam District Council. The residents will also be informed how best to disinfect their houses correctly,” he said.

Dr Noor Hisham said the Dato’ Ibrahim Majid Rural Clinic will operate as usual while the emergency service will be coordinated by the Medical Emergency Coordination Centre (MECC).