KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 18): Malaysia reported 26,701 new Covid-19 cases on Thursday (Feb 17), the second highest on record.  

The latest Covid-19 infections have brought the cumulative cases in the country to 3.14 million, according to a statement from the country's Health Director-General on Friday.

Of the new cases, 26,583 patients (99.56%) were categorised under Categories 1 and 2 which showed none to little symptoms.

The remaining 118 patients (0.44%) were placed under Categories 3, 4 and 5 which referred to more serious cases.

New recoveries came in at 11,744, which raised total recoveries to 2.89 million, representing a recovery rate of 92%.

A total of 216 patients are currently being treated in intensive care units, with 141 of them requiring breathing assistance.

The Health Ministry’s COVIDNOW portal showed the country’s active cases increased further to 217,781, including 204,875 who were undergoing home quarantine.

It also showed 39 more coronavirus-related deaths were reported on Thursday, raising the cumulative number of fatalities to 32,240.

The average occupancy rate of hospital beds in the country stood at 68% on Thursday.

Meanwhile, 13.73 million individuals, or 58.3% of the country's adult population, had received their booster dose, and 22.94 million adults, or 97.5% of the age group, had completed their two-dose vaccination.