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| Data as of 17 May 2024, 23:59 |
COVID-19 cases increased by 14.8 percent - KKM
19/05/2024
PUTRAJAYA: The number of COVID-19 cases increased by 14.8 percent to 1,230 cases in the 20th Epidemiological Week (ME 20/2024) which is for the period from May 12 to May 18, 2024, according to the Ministry of Health (KKM).
In a statement today, the Ministry of Health informed that no death due to COVID-19 has been reported since 25 April 2024 until now.
According to the Ministry of Health, the number of admissions of COVID-19 patients to health facilities in ME 20/2024 compared to ME 19/2024, i.e. the filling of non-critical beds, increased slightly but did not burden the hospital's capacity, from 0.08 percent to 0.10 percent, while the filling of intensive care unit beds ( ICU) decreased from 0.17 percent to 0.04 percent.
"MoH is constantly monitoring the situation of COVID-19 in Malaysia and at the global level. Following the latest wave of incidents in Singapore, which is a doubling of COVID-19 cases in the week of May 5 to May 11, 2024 compared to the previous week, MoH has increased preparedness measures to deal with possible increase in cases in Malaysia," according to the Ministry of Health.
The Ministry of Health informed that until now, the variant that is spreading in Malaysia is still the Omicron variant and its subvariants.
The ministry informed that one case of KP2.1 and one case of KP.1.1 have been reported since March 2024, with both variants being part of the Omicron family.
"In particular, they are a sublineage from JN.1.11.1. The World Health Organization (WHO) listed KP.2 as a Variant Under Monitoring (VUM) on May 3, 2024.
"However, the inclusion of this variant does not cause severe infection to infected individuals," according to the Ministry of Health.
