by BERNAMA / pic by BERNAMA

Malaysia has recorded good progress in its fight against COVID-19, with the number of fully recovered patients who have been discharged so far rising to 2,478, or 49.7 per cent of the cumulative total of positive cases.

Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah (picture) said the number of patients who recovered and were discharged today was 202, which is more than the 170 new positive cases recorded as of noon today. The latest cases bring the cumulative total to 4,987. 

“After deducting the number of discharged cases and deaths from the cumulative total, the number of active COVID-19 cases with infectivity is 2,427. They have been isolated and treated,” he said at a daily media briefing on COVID-19 at the Health Ministry here today.

Dr Noor Hisham said another five fatalities were reported, bringing the death toll to 82.

He said this meant that the fatality rate from COVID-19 in Malaysia is 1.64 per cent of the total number of cases.

He said the 78th fatality (Case 4,532) was an unidentified man, believed to be a foreigner, who was found dead in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah on April 6.

“The results of COVID-19 test samples taken during the post-mortem turned out positive on April 11, 2020; this case is under investigation by the police,” he said.

Dr Noor Hisham said the 79th death (Case 2,052) involved a 65-year-old Malaysian man with a history of diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney disease.

“He was admitted to Hospital Sungai Buloh, Selangor on March 27, 2020 and was confirmed to have died at 5.17 am on April 14, 2020 (today), ” he added.

The 80th death (Case 4,818) involved a 63-year-old Malaysian man with a history of heart and kidney diseases, who was admitted to Kuala Lumpur Hospital on April 7 and died at 11.36 pm on April 12.

“The 81st fatality (Case 4,521) was a 74-year-old Malaysian woman who had a history of kidney disease.

“She had close contact with a COVID-19 patient, that is Case 4,088 who attended the Seri Petaling assembly. She was admitted to Melaka Hospital on April 9, 2020 and was confirmed to have died at 4.20 pm on April 13, 2020,” he said.

Dr Noor Hisham said the 82nd death (Case 1,649) involved an 81-year-old Malaysian man with a history of diabetes.

He was a close contact of Case 343, who attended the assembly in Seri Petaling.

“He was admitted to Hospital Enche’ Besar Hajjah Khalsom, Johor on March 26, 2020 and was confirmed to have died at 11.50 am on April 14 (today),” he added.

Dr Noor Hisham said 60 positive cases were still being treated in the Intensive Care Unit, with 33 of them requiring ventilators.