KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia reported one Covid-19 death in the latest epidemiological week, an elderly bedridden man, even as infections plunged nearly 50 per cent compared with the same period last year.
Locals continue to wear face masks in public and on transport such as buses and trains, part of ongoing hygiene practices aimed at keeping Covid-19 risks in check.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad in a Facebook post said
as of the 35th Epidemiological Week (ME35) this year, 43,087 cases were reported compared to 85,297 cases in the same period last year.
The country logged 594 Covid-19 cases in the latest epidemiological week, down 12.8 per cent from 681 cases the week before, the minister said.
Meanwhile, Dzulkefly said one new Covid-19 death was reported in EW35/2025, a 91-year-old bedridden elderly patient.
Three Covid-19 deaths have been recorded in Malaysia so far this year, he said.
Dzulkefly said NB.1.8.1, a subvariant of Omicron, is currently the most common Covid-19 strain in Malaysia, making up 39.4 per cent of cases.
JN.1 accounts for 18.1 per cent, XEC 13.3 per cent, and XFG — a newly monitored variant — 8.2 per cent, while other strains make up the remaining 21 per cent.
The health minister urged Malaysians to stay vigilant, stressing the importance of washing hands regularly, wearing masks when sick or in crowded places, and getting vaccinated if at risk.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
