There was only one imported case, with 259 local infections reported.

This was the highest spike in cases ever since the recovery movement control order (RMCO) came into effect in June.

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said there were 47 recoveries, bringing the total number of those discharged to 10,014.

At a press conference, Noor Hisham said there were currently 1,334 active cases.

Today’s 260 cases were also the second-highest increase ever recorded since the pandemic hit Malaysian shores, with the highest being 277 new infections on June 4 during the conditional MCO.

Currently, 20 patients are being treated in the intensive care unit (ICU), with three requiring respiratory assistance.

No new Covid-19-related fatalities were reported, with the death toll remaining at 136.

Sabah recorded the most number of infections with 118 cases, followed by Kedah with 98, Kuala Lumpur with 14 and Selangor with 13.

Perlis, Penang, Terengganu, Pahang, Johor, Melaka and Putrajaya also recorded new Covid-19 infections.

Kelantan, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Sarawak and Labuan were the only states that did not record any new cases.

Thirty-one of the local cases reported today had been to Sabah recently.

Meanwhile Noor Hisham said public health activities to curb the Covid-19 outbreak were already underway in Sabah, way before the targeted movement control order (TEMCO) was imposed in badly affected districts Lahad Datu, Kunak, Semporna and Tawau on Sept 27.

“The army actually helped us in terms of strengthening the borders. And we have had 98 roadblocks before the announcement.”

“We had already deployed our doctors and nurses to Sabah. And we had identified six hospitals to be Covid-19 dedicated hospitals.”

He added that the TEMCO was not announced earlier so as not to discourage people from going out to vote during the Sabah state elections on Sept 26.

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