123 New Virus Cases Surface

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PETALING JAYA: Another 123 Covid-19 cases and two more deaths were reported, bringing the total to 1,306 cases and 10 deaths from the disease, says the Health Ministry
Health director-general Datuk Seri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said 74 of the 123 new cases were linked to the tabligh cluster while the other 49 were still being investigated
Dr Noor Hisham said there were 46 patients in intensive care, with 22 needing respiratory aid
On the two additional deaths, Dr Noor Hisham said the ninth death involved a 48-year-old health ministry staff member who had travelled to Turkey and died yesterday
The 10th death was a 74-year-old man from the tabligh cluster and also the 259th Covid-19 patient
He was warded at Penang Hospital on March 13 and succumbed to his illness yesterday
He said the minister was told at least 14,500 Malaysians were at the tabligh event that was held at Sri Petaling mosque, not 1,600.

“We have managed to trace over 11,000 participants and have done sampling on 6,700, ” he said
He said 62% of the country’s Covid-19 cases were linked to the tabligh cluster, representing 743 out of the 1,306 cases so far
“The ministry would like to express its condolences to their family members, ” said Dr Noor Hisham of the deaths
He also said 460 Health Ministry staff members had gone through Covid-19 screening as of March 22
Out of the number, 270 were found negative while the remaining 190 are still waiting for results
He also said that the ministry was providing mental health services and psychosocial support for them and their families who were emotionally affected by the viral crisis
Twenty-five patients recovered, said Dr Noor Hisham, bringing the number of those discharged to 139. - Star

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