New Covid-19 cluster identified in Melaka
Three positive cases detected after Malaysian returned from Russia on July 5.
PETALING JAYA: The health ministry has identified a new Covid-19 cluster in Melaka, traced from a Malaysian who had returned from Russia.
Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the “PUI Novgorod” cluster was first identified after a third positive case was detected following close contact screening.
He said the first case in the cluster involved a Malaysian (case No. 8,673) who returned from Russia on July 5. He was found to be infected upon arrival at KLIA and was admitted to Sungai Buloh Hospital.
The second case (case 8718) was a friend who was on the same flight.
He had initially tested negative at the airport screening. However, he started having a fever and difficulty in breathing two days later and tested positive at a second screening.
Noor Hisham said the father of the second patient later also tested positive He had been among four family members who had driven to KLIA to fetch case 8718.
To date there are three positive cases and 14 close contacts in the Novgorod cluster. “All 14 close contacts have been screened and tested negative . Investigations and active close contact tracing are still ongoing,” Noor Hisham said.
Melaka had been a “green” state with no active case until today. The other green states are Perak, Penang, Kedah, Perlis, Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan.
Selangor remains the only state with double-digit Covid-19 active cases with 11 in Sepang and one case in Gombak.
A total of 8,725 Covid-19 cases have been recorded in the country with 122 deaths. Some 8,520 people have recovered while 83 are still being treated.
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