Malaysia recorded 26 deaths from Covid-19 in the past 24 hours, the highest ever, even as the number of fresh infections fell to 3,733, dropping below the 4,000-mark for the first time in three days.
Director-general of Health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the highest number of deaths reported previously was 25, on May 8 and February 18.
He said the fatalities in the past 24 hours involved 25 Malaysians and one foreigner.
The 26 deceased comprised 25 Malaysians and one foreigner, aged between 36 and 90. This brings the cumulative death toll to 1,683.
Noor Hisham said there were 3,211 recoveries, bringing the total number of those discharged to 401,934.
He said the total number of infections now stands at 440,677.
There are 37,060 active cases, with 416 patients being treated in intensive care and 216 requiring respiratory assistance.
Selangor continued to report the bulk of the daily cases with 1,278 fresh infections followed by Sarawak with 454 cases and Johor with 365 cases – the 17th straight day that Selangor has reported the most number of daily cases.
Selangor also tops the chart with 143,270 infections, followed by Sabah with 58,857 cases and then Johor with 47,971 cases.