KUALA LUMPUR (March 24): The Ministry of Health announced that four more people have died from COVID-19 as of this afternoon, while the country registered 172 new cases. This brings the death toll to 19, while the infection tally climbs to 1,796.

According to Health Ministry director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, the deceased were all aged above 55, and one of them was a 75-year-old man in Kuala Lumpur who passed away in Hospital Kuala Lumpur at 7.40pm last night.

The other three deaths were in Johor and involved two men aged 66 and 56 who passed away at 4am and 2am respectively this morning, and a woman aged 68 who died just about an hour past midnight.

Of the new infections, 71 cases have been traced to the Masjid Jamek Sri Petaling tabligh or religious gathering, while the source of infection for the remainder 101 — suspected to be linked to other clusters — are still being investigated, according to the Ministry's director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah in a statement.

To date, there are 45 patients in intensive care units, with 34 needing respiratory aid.

Meanwhile, 16 more patients have recovered and allowed to be discharged today. This brings the recovery tally to 199.

Also as of noon today, 73 healthcare workers with the Ministry have tested positive, according to Dr Noor.

The sources of their infections, however, are not linked to the management or treatment of patients who had tested positive for the virus.

Instead, 47 or 64.4% of these infections have been traced to a wedding reception, which were also attended by some of those who attended the tabligh.

The others were infected after having gone overseas or having had close contact with a family member who had tested positive for the virus.

Meanwhile, 1,895 Ministry healthcare workers who treated COVID-19 patients at the Ministry's health facilities have undergone testing for the coronavirus infection. Of these, 1,187 tested negative.

The remainder 708 are still awaiting the results of their tests. None of those who have been treating patients have been tested positive, the D-G stressed.

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Covid-19: 172 new confirmed infections with 1,796 cases in total as of noon — Muhyiddin