Third COVID-19 death in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR (March 20): Malaysia has recorded the third COVID-19 death this evening.

According to an announcement by the Ministry of Health, the 58-year-old man passed away in Tawau Hospital at 6.27pm today.

Health Ministry director-general Datuk Seri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said in his Facebook announcement that the patient was case 152 and was linked to the mass tabligh gathering at Masjid Jamek, Sri Petaling, last month.

"He was admitted to the Tawau Hospital on March 9 with severe acute respiratory infection symptoms," said Dr Noor Hisham.

He said the man was given respiratory assistance and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on the same day.

"His health began to deteriorate day by day and was pronounced dead on March 20 at 6.27pm,” said Dr Noor Hisham.

"Condolences to the deceased's family," he added.

The first COVID-19 related death took place Johor Bahru where the deceased was a 34-year-old male who also took part in the tabligh event in Masjid Jamek, Sri Petaling. The second death was a 60-year-old pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Sarawak with a history of chronic illness.