KUALA LUMPUR, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) — Malaysia reported 1,229 new COVID-19 infections, the health ministry said on Sunday, bringing the national total to 83,475.
Health Ministry Director-General Noor Hisham Abdullah said in a press statement that two of the new cases are imported and 1,227 are local transmissions.
Four new deaths have been reported, leaving the death toll at 415.
Another 1,309 patients have been released after recovery, bringing the total cured and discharged to 69,393, or 83.1 percent of all cases.
Of the remaining 13,667 active cases, 115 are being held in intensive care units and 65 of those are in need of assisted breathing.
The official also said Malaysia would reduce quarantine times for close contacts of active cases and travellers to the country from 14 days to 10 days from Dec. 14 onwards, following similar moves by other countries and regions.
“Reviewing the latest scientific evidence shows the risk of infection post-quarantine drops depending on the time of quarantine. The infectivity rate is highest during the first week after exposure,” he said. Enditem
