Covid-19 (Nov 19): 1,290 new cases, record number of ICU admissions

COVID-19 | The Health Ministry reported 1,290 new Covid-19 cases and four deaths as of noon today. 

The ministry also reported that 110 Covid-19 patients are in intensive care, exceeding the previous record of 108 set on April 3.

Leading indicators:

• Active cases - 13,222 ↑ (408 more than the previous day, new record)

• Intensive care - 110 ↑ (7 more than the previous day)

• Intubated patients - 37 ↓ (4 less than the previous day)

• Deaths - 4

Sabah reported the largest number of new cases (51.2 percent) followed by the Klang Valley (37.1 percent) and Perak (3.7 percent).

A third of the new cases in Sabah were related to detention centres.

In the Klang Valley, half of the new cases were attributed to the Teratai cluster, which involved the Top Glove factory in the Kapar district, Selangor.

A large number of new cases were also discovered in a new cluster in Selangor known as Kapas BJ, involving the Hulu Langat district. According to the Selangor Health Department, the factory involved was located in the Semenyih locality. 

Both the Teratai and Kapas BJ clusters involved foreign worker dormitories.

Two deaths were reported in Sabah. Another two deaths were reported in Johor and Perak respectively. Details are as follows:

'Patient 43,767' - female citizen, 62, died at the Hospital Enche' Besar Hajjah Khalsom in Kluang, Johor.

'Patient 43,923' - female citizen, 29, died at the Duchess of Kent Hospital in Sandakan, Sabah.

'Patient 45,064' - Male citizen, 58, died at the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh, Perak.

'Patient 50,117' - Female foreigner, 47, died at the Lahad Datu Hospital, Sabah.

The cumulative Covid-19 death toll for the country had reached 326. The death toll in Sabah alone had reached 184 or 56.4 percent of the national total.

Sabah (660)

Existing clusters: 418

Close contact: 144

Other screenings: 98

Selangor (407)

Existing clusters: 306

New cluster (Kapas BJ): 55

Close contact: 19

Patient with symptoms: 1

Other screenings: 26

Kuala Lumpur (72)

Existing clusters: 45

New cluster (Prestij): 15

Imported: 5

Close contact: 4

Other screenings: 3

Perak (48)

Existing clusters: 35

New cluster (Bah Bercham): 2

Close contact: 5

Patient with symptoms: 1

Other screenings: 5

Negeri Sembilan (32)

Existing clusters: 26

Close contact: 5

Other screenings: 1

Kelantan (17)

Existing clusters: 15

Other screenings: 2

Labuan (15)

Existing clusters: 3

Close contact: 7

Other screenings: 5

Johor (15)

Existing clusters: 3

New cluster (Kiambang): 8

Close contact: 3

Other screenings: 1

Penang (8)

Existing clusters: 7

Patient with symptoms: 1

Sarawak (8)

Existing clusters: 6

Close contact: 1

Other screenings: 1

Kedah (7)

Existing clusters: 7

Malacca (1)

Close contact: 1

Pahang, Terengganu, Putrajaya and Perlis did not report any new cases.

The Health Ministry today classified four new clusters. The index case for the aforementioned Kapas BJ cluster reported symptoms on Oct 28. So far, 76 cases have been attributed to this cluster.

The Prestij cluster involved the staff of a cleaning company who were screened today. Twenty cases have been attributed to this cluster so far. This cluster involved the Lembah Pantai and Titiwangsa districts in Kuala Lumpur.

The Bah Bercham cluster involved the Kinta district in Perak. The index case had recently returned from Sabah and tested positive on Nov 13. Five cases have been attributed to this cluster.

The Kiambang cluster involved the Mersing, Kota Tinggi and Johor Bahru districts in Johor. The index case reported symptoms on Nov 16. Nine cases have been attributed to this cluster thus far.

There are 165 active clusters in the country of which 54 reported new cases today.

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah did not conduct a daily press briefing today.

It is understood that his press briefings will only take place on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, coinciding with the National Security Council meetings on those days.