KUALA LUMPUR (April 22): Malaysia's daily new cases dropped today to 50, which is lower than the number of recoveries at 103. 

This is the second lowest daily figure recorded since the Movement Control Order (MCO) began on March 18; the lowest was 36 cases on Monday (April 20).

For the seventh time, Malaysia has recorded fewer than 100 daily infections, in double digits. This is also the sixth straight day that new reported infections stayed under 100 cases.

The country's total infection number increased slightly to 5,532.

Meanwhile, the total number of cured cases was at 3,452 as of noon today, representing a recovery rate of 62.4%.

This means the number of active cases is now 1,987, with patients already isolated and being given treatment.

To date, 43 patients are being treated in the intensive care unit, with 25 of them needing respiratory assistance, according to health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah in a statement.

One more death today brings the death toll to 93 cases, which translates into a mortality rate of 1.68%.

The deceased was a 72-year-old woman who had cancer and high blood pressure.

She was admitted to Sarawak General Hospital on Monday (April 20) and was pronounced dead today at 9.15 am.

Malaysia has the fourth-highest number of Covid-19 infections in Southeast Asia.

Singapore is the worst hit in the region, crossing the 10,000-mark after 1,016 new infections were reported today.

Following the recent uptick in cases, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced yesterday that its circuit breaker measures will be extended until June 1 and tightened over the course of the next two weeks.

Meanwhile, Indonesia is the second Asean country with the most Covid-19 cases (7,418), followed by the Philippines (6,710).

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