CORONAVIRUS | Malaysia today recorded 57 new Covid-19 cases, bringing the total infections to 5,482, according to Health Ministry director-general Noor Hisham Abdullah.

Of the 57 new cases, 18 were among Malaysians returning from abroad and another 39 were local transmissions.

Noor Hisham also reported that there were three new deaths today, bringing the death toll to 92, a mortality rate of 1.68 percent.

He also announced that another 54 patients have recovered from Covid-19 and discharged from the hospital.

As such, a total of 3,349 patients have recovered, or 61.1 percent of total cases.

The latest figures mean there are still 2,041 active cases, namely Covid-19 patients who are still under treatment and can infect others.

Of those under treatment, 43 are in the intensive care unit (ICU), down from 45 yesterday.

Of the patients in ICU, 27 are on ventilators, down from 28 yesterday.

The released data is updated up to noon today.

Details of the three new deaths are as follow:

Patient 2,050 (90th death)

A 72-year-old Malaysian woman who had a history of diabetes and high blood pressure. She was the mother of "Patient 2,053". She was treated at the Sungai Buloh Hospital on March 27 and passed away on April 20 at 1.47pm.

Patient 4,090 (91st death)

A 69-year-old Malaysian man who had a history of diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney disease. He was treated at the Sarawak General Hospital on April 6 and passed away on April 21 at 2.28am.

Patient 5,332 (92nd death)

A 92-year-old Malaysian man with a history of diabetes, high blood pressure and dementia. He was a close contact of "Patient 4,711". He was treated at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital on April 8 and passed away on April 21 at 1.30am.

Noor Hisham also said the Health Ministry had been conducting surveillance activities to detect the prevalence of Covid-19 infections in the community.

He said the Health Ministry had since Feb 2 tested all patients who have Influenza-like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (Sari) at government hospitals and clinics.

Of 2,661 tests of Sari patients, 56 or 2.1 percent were positive for Covid-19 and of 1,280 tests on ILI patients, eight or 0.6 percent were positive for Covid-19.

"The surveillance activity acts as early detection and early warning system of Covid-19 incidents in Malaysia.

"The Health Ministry will continue to expand and strengthen Covid-19 surveillance activities in Malaysia," he told a press conference in Putrajaya.

He said the Health Ministry has also been employing a targeted approach by conducting active case detection among communities deemed most at risk to Covid-19.

Noor Hisham also repeated his call for Malaysians to abide by the movement control order, practice social distancing and practice good hygiene habits.

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