The Health Ministry recorded 100 new Covid-19 cases today – a sharp rise from 62 yesterday – raising the tally of infections in the country to 9,559.
The latest figure was announced by Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah at a press conference today.
He said the bulk of the cases were from Sabah and Kedah.
This brings the national toll of infections to 9,559 while active cases stood at 295.
Locally transmitted cases stood at 85 while only 15 of the new cases were imported.
“Of the local cases, 55 are citizens and 30 non-citizens,” he said.
The Benteng Lahad Datu cluster in Sabah accounted for 62 cases – 32 of them Malaysians.
The Sungai healthcare centre cluster contributed to 22 cases in Kedah and one in Perlis.
Dr Noor Hisham said the significant rise in cases has propelled the r-naught to 1.72, which is above the critical level of 1.6.
Meanwhile, 12 patients were discharged from hospital in the past 24 hours after recovering from the coronavirus, bringing total recoveries to 9,136.
The death toll remained at 128 with no new fatalities reported.
Seven patients are currently warded in the intensive care unit, with four requiring respiratory support.