KUALA LUMPUR (March 15): Malaysia reported 1,208 new Covid-19 cases today, the lowest daily figure so far this year.

This is also the 10th consecutive day that fresh cases stay below the 2,000-mark level. The latest additions raised the country's total Covid-19 cases to 324,971.

Three more fatalities were registered in the latest 24-hour reporting period. They involved two Malaysians and one foreigner aged between 55 and 70 years, raising total deaths due to the pandemic to 1,213, according to Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

The deaths were reported in Johor, Sarawak and Sabah and all of the deceased had prior health complications such as diabetes, high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, gout and asthma.

Meanwhile, another 1,973 Covid-19 patients recovered, bringing total recoveries to 308,247. With new recoveries continuing to surpass fresh infections, the number of active cases fell further to 15,511 — the lowest since Dec 20 last year.

All but nine of the new cases disclosed today were local transmissions.

As for the 1,999 locally transmitted cases, 920 or 76.7% were Malaysians while 279 or 23.3% involved foreigners, noted Dr Noor Hisham in a statement.

Selangor reported 379 new cases, followed by Sarawak with 251, Penang (142), Johor (118), Negeri Sembilan (80), Kuala Lumpur (61), Terengganu (39), Perak (37), Sabah (29), Kedah (27), Kelantan (25), Pahang (17), Melaka (two) and Putrajaya (one).

Labuan and Perlis were free of new infections.

Twelve of the 13 new Covid-19 clusters detected today were linked to workplaces, said Dr Noor Hisham.

The 12 workplace clusters were:
• Perusahaan Amari cluster in Gombak, Selangor with eight infections
• Sungai Puloh cluster in Klang, Selangor with (18)
• Jalan Mega Lima cluster in Johor Bahru, Johor (22)
• Batu Tiga Lima cluster which spans Petaling and Kuala Selangor in Selangor (20)
• Jalan Delima cluster in Johor Bahru, Johor (21)
• Batu 19 cluster involving Kulai and Johor Bahru in Johor (nine)
• Jalan Tanjung cluster in Bintulu, Sarawak (19)
• Industri Gunung Mas cluster which spans Tampin and Kuala Pilah in Negeri Sembilan (32)
• Jalan Lapan Belas cluster in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur (seven)
• Chendering Height cluster involving Marang and Kuala Nerus in Terengganu (10)
• Tapak Bina Meha cluster in Kulim, Kedah (10)
• Kampung Air Batang cluster in Rompin, Pahang (15)

The remaining cluster was a religious cluster known as the Jalan Sekerat cluster, which spans Kuala Muda and Kulim in Kedah, with 17 infections.

There are 431 active clusters in the country out of 1,250 identified, as 819 clusters have ended.