PETALING JAYA: Penang’s resistance to Covid-19 continues to be tested. Today, a new cluster was found in the state as the nation reported 52 new cases for the day.
In a statement issued today, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah (pix) said the index cases in the new cluster, identified as Ara, is a 44-year-old local man who was identified at a border screening when he arrived in Sandakan, Sabah last Tuesday. The man is currently under quarantine in Sandakan.
A member of his family, who has had close contacts with him, has since also tested positive for Covid-19. They are two of 16 people in Ara who have been tested. The others tested negative. Investigations on how the man contracted the coronavirus is in progress.
Noor Hisham also said that 40 patients were discharged today, bringing the total number of recoveries to 9,355. There are 734 active cases.
Of the new cases reported today, 12 are imported. Three of the 12 are Malaysians and the rest are foreigners. Among the imported cases, eight had returned from India, and one each from Indonesia, Yemen, Russia and Bangladesh. Of the 40 locally transmitted cases, 26 are Malaysians and the rest are foreigners. No fatalities today leaves the death toll at 130. Two patients now require ventilator support.
Three areas — Amanjaya and Kota Star in Kedah, and the Tawau prison and quarters in Sabah are under enhanced movement control order.
