KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 9): The Ministry of Health (MOH) reported 354 new COVID-19 cases today with six new deaths — the highest daily fatality since end-March. The new infections raised the number of cumulative confirmed cases in Malaysia to 14,722.

As the number of recoveries came in lower than new daily cases, at 188, the number of active cases — which carry transmission risks — climbed to a new high of 3,863, from 3,703 yesterday.

The recovery tally now stands at 10,707 or 72.7% of overall cases, while the death toll has climbed to 152 or 1.03%.

By State, Sabah recorded the highest number of new cases at 274, followed by Selangor (24 cases), Kedah (10), Sarawak (10), Kuala Lumpur (eight), Pulau Pinang (eight), Johor (five), Terengganu (five), Negeri Sembilan (four), and Putrajaya (two). Perak and Labuan reported one case each.

A total of 120 cases in Sabah were detected via contact tracing tests, with the Ramai-Ramai cluster reporting 22 new cases — the highest daily addition among all the clusters in the country. The Benteng LD and Tujuh Serangkai clusters in the State reported 13 and five cases, respectively.

Meanwhile, the MOH announced that three new clusters of infections have been detected, namely the Atap cluster (four positive cases) in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah; the Bah Lada cluster (four positive cases) in Hilir Perak, Perak; and the Bah Sahabat cluster (10 positive cases) in Marang, Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu.

There are currently 48 active clusters in the country.

Of the six deaths, all were locals in Sabah. They comprise three men and three women aged between 54 and 68.

During his virtual press conference today, MOH director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah explained that the Home Surveillance Order (HSO) will be issued to an individual who has light symptoms but does not meet the criteria for ward admission, also known as Patients Under Investigation (PUI).

THe HSO would also be issued to an individual with no symptoms but has been in close contact with an infected person. These asymptomatic individuals are known as Persons Under Surveillance (PUS). Noor Hisham also explained that close contacts refer to those who have had direct contact with a COVID-19 positive case within 14 days of the latter's date of infection.

These include medical officers who are involved in the treatment of a patient without wearing a complete set of personal protective equipment (PPE); family members living in the same household as a patient; individuals who are in close contact with a COVID-19 case (such as in the office or in class); or those who have travelled and been in close contact with a positive case.