KUALA LUMPUR (May 12): Another 14 Covid-19 cases of the South African variant have been detected in Malaysia, along with a second case of the Indian variant.
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the 14 cases of the South African variant were detected in Kelantan, Kedah, Selangor, and Negeri Sembilan.
These raised to 62 the number of cases of that variant discovered in Malaysia so far, he said in a statement.
Seven of these cases were detected from the Kampung Dolmis cluster, while another four were detected during close contacts' screening. Of the remaining three, one case each was detected from the Bangkahulu and Bayan Cenderawasih clusters, and another one was detected from a person after being vaccinated.
As for the latest case of the Indian variant, Dr Noor Hisham said it again involves a foreigner, who has since passed away.
He said the deceased arrived in Malaysia on April 7 and went through a Covid-19 test at the border, with two tests done on April 7 and April 12, both showing a negative result.
"However, he tested positive on April 21, when he was brought to the emergency and trauma unit after displaying severe Covid-19 symptoms. His health declined and he passed away on May 1," Dr Noor Hisham said.
Malaysia today reported a record high of 39 Covid-19 deaths, while new cases rose sharply to 4,765 from 3,973 yesterday.
The new cases are the highest since Jan 31, and the fourth highest since the virus first landed on Malaysian shores.