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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia reported 1,704 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday (Jan 3), with Selangor accounting for the majority of the latest infections.
Malaysia is currently battling its third wave of COVID-19 during its Recovery Motion Control Order (RMCO) period and has recorded daily four-digit increases for about two weeks.
Selangor recorded 673 cases, of which 509 were from COVID-19 clusters and close contact examinations, said Chief Health Officer Noor Hisham Abdullah.
Health authorities detected 256 cases in Klang, followed by 140 in Hulu Langat and 116 in Kuala Langat.
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The remaining COVID-19 infections in Selangor were found in Gombak, Hulu Selangor, Sabak Bernam, Kuala Selangor, Petaling, and Sepang.
Dr Noor Hisham said 316 cases were detected in Sabah, while Johor reported 179 new infections.
Of the new cases reported Sunday, Dr. Noor Hisham said 74 were related to clusters in dungeons, immigrant detention warehouses and prisons.
There were also 11 new deaths, bringing the national death toll to 494. The deaths involved 10 Malaysian nationals and one foreigner, aged 53 to 77 years.
A total of 124 patients remain in intensive care and 51 require respiratory assistance.
The RMCO in Malaysia has been extended until March 31 due to a significant increase in COVID-19 cases across the country, with a high rate of infectivity.
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Malaysia entered the RMCO phase on June 10, where almost all social, educational, religious and business activities, as well as economic sectors, progressively reopened. Interstate travel was also allowed while the country’s borders remained closed.
The RMCO was previously scheduled to end on December 31, 2020.
Malaysia has recorded a total of 119,077 COVID-19 cases to date, with 21,365 currently classified as active or infectious cases.
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