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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian authorities warned of a new wave of COVID-19 after 260 new infections were reported on Thursday (October 1), the largest daily increase since the pandemic began.
The sharp rise in infections comes after an increase in travel to and from Sabah for state elections. The national count now stands at 11,484 cases with a total of 136 deaths.
All but one of the new cases reported Thursday were local infections.
Local broadcasts involved 130 Malaysians and 120 foreigners, while the only imported case traveled from the UK and is currently in Kuala Lumpur, Health Director-General Noor Hisham Abdullah said.
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Malaysia previously reported 277 new infections on June 4. Only four of these cases were transmitted locally, while most of the remaining cases were detected among foreigners from the Bukit Jalil Immigrant Detention Depot.
The third highest number of registered cases was on March 26, which was during the first phase of the movement control order. The 235 cases comprised 27 imported cases and 208 local transmissions.
“BEGINNING OF A NEW WAVE”
Dr. Noor Hisham said the increase in cases could be seen as “the beginning of a new wave” and urged the public to continue to practice social distancing and avoid leaving their homes unless necessary.
“Now it is up to us to flatten the curve. We have done it before and we can do it again,” he told a news conference.
“Of the 259 cases, 31 involved people with a history of traveling to Sabah. This brings the cumulative number of travel-related cases to Sabah to 119 as of September 20. “
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In detailing the breakdown of locally transmitted cases, Dr. Noor Hisham said that Sabah continued to record the highest number with 118. This was followed by Kedah with 98 cases, as well as Selangor and Kuala Lumpur with 13 cases each.
The other cases were found in Johor, Putrajaya, Terengganu, Perlis, Melaka, Pahang and Penang.
The recent surge in cases has sparked criticism of the government after at least two politicians tested positive for the virus while campaigning in Sabah.
This week cases related to travel to the state have been reported in all 13 states of Malaysia.
600 students in West Malaysia’s Penang state were ordered to undergo tests after a teacher tested positive for COVID-19 upon returning from accompanying her husband, a politician, on the Sabah campaign, media reported local.
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Dr. Noor Hisham said that the implementation of the inter-district travel restriction across Sabah from October 3 to October 16, as well as the Enhanced Movement Control Order (TEMCO) in four districts would help control the situation of COVID-19 there.
“At the same time, the Ministry of Health and other related agencies will do everything possible to control the spread of COVID-19 throughout the country. The cooperation of all parties is very necessary, ”he said.
Four new clusters of COVID-19 were also identified. They are the Jalan Meru group in Selangor, the Joo Hwa group in Sabah, the Selasih group in Putrajaya, and the Bah Ketil group in Kedah.
SARAWAK ANNOUNCES STRICTER TRAVEL MEASURES
In light of the growing number of COVID-19 cases in Sabah and the Malaysian peninsula, Sarawak authorities announced plans on Thursday to impose stricter travel measures.
The Sarawak government said it will prohibit Malaysians and non-citizens in Sabah and Labuan federal territory from entering the state between October 4-18.
Only Sarawak residents in Sabah and Labuan will be able to return to the state during that period, provided they complete an online application and a health statement. They will also need to undergo a 14-day quarantine and test for COVID-19.
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