Covid-19: Malaysia reports another 50 deaths today; new infections remain above 6,000

KUALA LUMPUR (May 22): Malaysia saw another 50 Covid-19 related deaths today, the same number as yesterday, with 31 of them reported in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur. This raised total fatalities to 2,199.

There were 6,320 new cases — the fourth straight day with more than 6,000 infections — raising the total number of cases to 505,115.

Another 4,694 patients were discharged in the 24 hours as of noon, bringing total recoveries to date to 449,234, said Health Director-General Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah at a press conference today. 

The number of active cases currently stands at 53,682, with 652 patients admitted to the ICU, of whom 370 are on ventilators, he said.

Selangor once again was the state with the highest number of infections with 1,647 cases, followed by Sarawak with 749 cases, and Kuala Lumpur with 654 cases.

Of the 50 new deaths, 22 were from Selangor and nine were from Kuala Lumpur, followed by Johor (five), Kedah (four), Perak (three), Sarawak (two), Pahang (two), Negeri Sembilan (one), Melaka (one) and Kelantan (one).

Seventeen new Covid-19 clusters were reported today, raising the total number of clusters to 2,001, of which 535 are currently active.

ICU occupancy rate in Klang Valley jumps to 113%

Noor Hisham said 91% of ICU beds in the country are occupied, while the occupancy rate in the Klang Valley stands at 113%.

“This means that patients seeking treatment for other illnesses in the ICU are not able to get the critical care they need as it is taken up by Covid positive patients. We have to repurpose normal wards to become ICU wards,” he said.

Sungai Buloh Hospital, which serves as the main Covid-19 treatment facility in the Klang Valley, has 80 ICU beds but is treating 89 critical Covid-19 patients (111% occupancy rate).

The rate for Kajang Hospital is 317%, and for Banting Hospital it is 200%.

Dr Noor Hisham said the healthcare system is under extreme strain and urged people to stay home to break the chain of infections.

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