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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia reported 2,985 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday (Jan 13), when new movement restrictions went into effect across the country.
A third of the cases were from the Klang Valley area, which comprises Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, which had 1,126 new infections. Johor and Sabah accounted for 535 and 450 cases respectively.
Health Director General Noor Hisham Abdullah said there were a total of four more deaths from Sabah and Johor.
The youngest victim was a 19-year-old foreign woman. She had a medical history of anemia and had been taken to Papar Hospital in Sabah after her death.
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Dr. Noor Hisham added that 197 patients remain in the intensive care unit and 79 require ventilation.
Eleven new conglomerates were also identified, bringing the total number of active conglomerates in Malaysia to 270.
Under the renewed movement control order (MCO), residents of the states of Penang, Selangor, Melaka, Johor and Sabah, as well as the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan are prohibited from traveling between districts.
Interstate travel is also currently prohibited nationwide through January 26.
Dr. Noor Hisham said “a more drastic approach” must be taken on the form of the MCO as the country struggles to contain infections. He expects COVID-19 cases to “drop to around 500 to 1,000 cases per day in four weeks” after its implementation.
“After (the MCO ends), we will implement the Conditional Movement Control Order and hope to flatten the curve in May or June,” he added.
If authorities do not take action to curb the spread of COVID-19 now, the Health Ministry is “projecting that new daily cases will exceed 5,000 by April … and 8,000 by the end of May,” said Dr. Noor. Hisham.
Malaysia’s Inspector General of Police said Tuesday that those stranded in their hometowns with valid reasons after the MCO takes effect will be able to take interstate trips to return home this week.
He said police understand that many people may have left the city to visit family or on vacation and would not be able to return before movement restrictions took effect.
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“A directive has been issued for staff on the ground to use their utmost discretion to allow those who are stranded to return home.
“I have issued reminders and tips for the public to have a (interstate) passage, including those traveling in public vehicles, maybe until Friday,” he said.
Malaysia has reported daily four-digit increases in COVID-19 cases for about a month as it struggles to contain its third wave of infections.
As of Wednesday, Malaysia has reported a total of 144,518 COVID-19 cases, of which 32,377 are currently classified as infectious. There have also been a total of 563 deaths.
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