28 newly confirmed Covid-19 cases in Malaysia; tally now at 83

KUALA LUMPUR — The Malaysian Health Ministry has confirmed 28 new Covid-19 cases as of noon on Friday (March 6), bringing the tally nationwide to 83.

Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah in a statement said the new positive cases were derived from Patient-Under-Investigation, close contacts, and humanitarian aid missions.

“All of these cases have been detected for further treatment, while their close contacts have been identified for further investigation and sampling.”

To date, these positive cases include 65 Malaysians, 15 Chinese nationals and one each from the United States, Japan, and Italy.

Dr Noor Hisham said a total of 956 close contacts have been identified.

“(And) of the total, 258 close contacts to the cluster related to the 26th case were detected and had their samples taken for the test.

“Of these clusters, 18 people were tested positive for Covid-19, another 70 people were found negative but placed under observation at home for 14 days.

“Another 170 people have been tested and still waiting for laboratory results. They were also placed under observation at home.”

Dr Noor Hisham said the ministry is still conducting investigations and contacts tracing to identify the cause of the infection, thus prevent the spread of the infection.

“The ministry has conducted Covid-19 surveillance to detect sporadic and local cases in Malaysia through influenza-like-illness and severe acute respiratory infection patients, with no history of traveling to affected countries or in contact with those tested positive Covid-19.

“As of March 6, a total of 430 samples have been tested, and so far no samples have been detected positive for Covid-19.

“Based on current information, no Covid-19 sporadic cases have been detected through this surveillance activity.”

Dr Noor Hisham said the ministry also wished to inform that under the Code of Professional Conduct of the Medical Act 1971 (Amendment 2012) and medical regulations, medical practitioners must ensure the confidentiality of a patient's personal information is maintained unless the patient discloses his or her information voluntarily. NEW STRAITS TIMES