COVID-19 Cases Jump To 900 On March 19
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases have increased to 900 after the Ministry of Health reported 110 new cases.
Out of the 110 new cases, 86 of those originate from the tabligh cluster, the congregation that happened earlier this month in Masjid Jamek, Kuala Lumpur, according to the Ministry.
Terkini 15 kes positif #COVID19 telah sembuh dan dibenarkan discaj dari wad. Ini menjadikan jumlah sembuh dan discaj sebanyak 75 kes.
— KKMPutrajaya (@KKMPutrajaya) March 19, 2020
Terdapat 110 kes baru dilaporkan, menjadikan jumlah kumulatif kes positif sebanyak 900 kes. pic.twitter.com/gXqQ1ZPV2B
Close to 600 cases in Southeast Asia was linked to the event: 513 in Malaysia, 61 in Brunei, 22 in Cambodia, at least five in Singapore and two in Thailand.
What make matters more complicated for officials is trying to track down 2,000 Rohingya men who attended the tabligh event as their refugee status means they are reluctant to identify themselves for coronavirus testing even if they have the symptoms.
However, the Health Ministry said 15 more patients have recovered and are discharged, taking the total number of those cured up to 75.
In terms of states affected by the coronavirus, the Health Ministry reported that Selangor has the highest number of confirmed cases with 223, followed by Kuala Lumpur (123), Sabah (112), and Johor (101).
Selangor catat kes positif tertinggi sebanyak 223 kes diikuti Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur (123), Sabah (112) dan Johor (101). pic.twitter.com/o1HRiSq73w
— KKMPutrajaya (@KKMPutrajaya) March 19, 2020
The country is currently in the Movement Control Order (MCO) to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin also didn’t rule out a possible extension to the MCO if the country is unable to break the chain of infection within these two weeks during a public announcement on national television recently.
There was also the possibility of military involvement if Malaysians do not adhere to the order, according to Defense Minister Ismail Sabri.
To ensure that people adhere to the order, state governments have also deployed personnel to educate the masses about the order and also to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
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