Covid-19 (April 22): 2,875 new cases, record number in Kelantan
The Health Ministry today reported 2,875 new Covid-19 cases while Kelantan has reported its highest number of new cases on record.
The number of active Covid-19 cases (individuals under treatment) is continuing on an upward trend since reaching a recent low on April 7, as the amount of new cases continue to outpace people who have recovered.
- Active cases: 22,014
- Patients in ICU: 248
- Intubated: 115
States
Today also marked the first time Kelantan (662 new cases) reported a higher figure than any other region.
The spread of Covid-19 does not show signs of abating in hotspots such as Selangor (633), Sarawak (474) and Kuala Lumpur (332).
As of yesterday, Kelantan had the highest R-naught in the country at 1.44. This is against the figure of 1.15 for the entire country.
A figure of more than 1.00 indicates that the spread of Covid-19 is accelerating. The only regions where the R-naught is less than 1.00 are Penang, Labuan, Perak, Terengganu and Perlis.
Deaths
There were seven Covid-19 deaths reported today – Sabah (3), Selangor (2), Sarawak (1), and Kelantan (1).
The national Covid-19 death toll has reached 1,407.
Those who died were aged between 44 and 80 – all with comorbidities. Among them was a foreign national who died in Sabah.
Details of the victims are documented on Malaysiakini’s Covid-19 tracker site.
Clusters
The Health Ministry is currently monitoring 352 Covid-19 clusters which are still active, which includes 13 that were newly classified today.
Notably, three Education Ministry regulated schools are involved in clusters.
Details of the new clusters are as follows:
Jalan Semtec cluster
District(s): Hulu Langat in Selangor
Locality/Source: A factory at Jalan Semtec 3, Semenyih Technology Park, Hulu Langat
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: April 21, targeted screening
Total infected: 12 out of 48 screened
Jalan Industri Mekanikal cluster
District(s): Pontian in Johor
Locality/Source: Factory at Jalan Industri 2, Taman Perindustrian Pekan Nenas, Pontian
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: April 20, index case reported symptoms
Total infected: 7 out of 119 screened
Jalan Skin cluster
District(s): Kota Tinggi and Kulai in Johor
Locality/Source: Government building at Jalan Skin, Kota Kechil, Kota Tinggi
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: April 16, index case reported symptoms
Total infected: 10 out of 105 screened
Kota Sawit cluster
District(s): Kinabatangan in Sabah
Locality/Source: A factory at Pekan Kota Kinabatangan, Kinabatangan
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: April 14, targeted screening
Total infected: 14 out of 194 screened
Jalan Salahuddin cluster
District(s): Kepong and Lembah Pantai in Kuala Lumpur;Petaling, Hulu Langat and Gombak in Selangor; and Putrajaya
Locality/Source: Government building at Jalan Sultan Salahuddin, Kuala Lumpur
Cluster category: Workplace, index case reported symptoms
First case: April 18, index case reported symptoms
Total infected: 10 out of 59 screened
Jalan Raji cluster
District(s): Petaling, Sabak Bernam and Klang in Selangor
Locality/Source: Index case’s residence at Jalan Mat Raji, Padang Jawa, Shah Alam, Petaling
Cluster category: Community
First case: April 12, index case reported symptoms
Total infected: 42 out of 110 screened
Sungai Banus cluster
District(s): Selangau in Sarawak
Locality/Source: Vicinity of Sungai Anus
Cluster category: Community
First case: April 9, targeted screening
Total infected: 41 out of 51 screened
Jalan Pokok Mangga cluster
District(s): Malacca Tengah in Malacca
Locality/Source: Index case’s residence at Jalan Pokok Mangga, Melaka Tengah
Cluster category: Community
First case: April 19, index case reported symptoms
Total infected: 19 out of 43 screened
Taman Changkat cluster
District(s): Hilir Perak in Perak
Locality/Source: Index case’s residence at Taman Changkat, Jalan Changkat Jong, Teluk Intan, Hilir Perak
Cluster category: Community
First case: April 21, index case reported symptoms
Total infected: 10 out of 41 screened
Jalan Shah Banting cluster
District(s): Kuala Langat in Selangor
Locality/Source: Educational institution at Jalan Sultan Suleiman Shah, Banting, Kuala Langat
Cluster category: Education Ministry regulated institution
First case: April 16, targeted screening
Total infected: 58 out of 913 screened
Mengkebang cluster
District(s): Kuala Krai in Kelantan
Locality/Source: Educational institution at Mengkebang, Kuala Krai
Cluster category: Education Ministry regulated institution
First case: April 10, pre-hospitalisation screening
Total infected: 21 out of 178 screened
Dinamik cluster
District(s): Kota Setar in Kedah
Locality/Source: School at Jalan Sultanah, Alor Setar
Cluster category: Education Ministry regulated institution
First case: April 21, index case reported symptoms
Total infected: 15 out of 32 screened
Kampung Bangkahulu cluster
District(s): Tampin and Seremban in Negeri Sembilan
Locality/Source: Vicinity of Kampung Bangkahulu, Tampin
Cluster category: Religious event
First case: April 16, index case reported symptoms
Total infected: 11 out of 29 screened
Source : Malaysiakini
Covid-19 (April 21): 2,340 new cases, death toll hits 1,400
The Health Ministry today reported 2,340 new Covid-19 cases with the number of patients needing intensive care reaching levels not seen since mid-February.
Malaysians accounted for 91.28 percent of new cases. Most of the new cases were reported in the Klang Valley (35.17 percent), while East Malaysia comprises 25.77 percent of new cases.
- Active cases: 21,687
- Patients in ICU: 248
- Intubated: 101
States
Kelantan reported 370 new cases, the second-highest number reported by the state so far. Seven out of 10 districts in the state are under movement control order (MCO) restrictions.
Selangor reported 526 new cases which were higher than the average of 428 new cases reported over the preceding 14 days.
As if yesterday, the R-naught number for Malaysia stood at 1.16, down from a recent high of 1.19 on April 17, but up from a 2021 low of 0.81 on March 3.
An R-naught number of more than 1.00 was indicative of Covid-19 spreading faster.
The only regions where the R-naught was less than 1.00 are Penang, Labuan, Putrajaya, Perak and Perlis.
Deaths
The national Covid-19 death toll has reached 1,400 with deaths reported in Kuala Lumpur (1), Sarawak (4) and Sabah (6).
Sarawak currently has the third most number of Covid-19 deaths (145) – ahead of Kuala Lumpur (133) but behind Selangor (362).
Those who died were aged between 61 and 82.
Details of the victims are recorded in Malaysiakini’s Covid-19 tracker site.
Clusters
The Health Ministry is currently monitoring 343 active Covid-19 clusters.
They include the 11 new clusters classified today.
Details of the new clusters are as follow:
Jalan Anggerik 21 cluster
District(s): Johor Bahru in Johor
Locality/Source: Schoo at Jalan Anggerik 21, Taman Johor Jaya, Johor Bahru
Cluster category: School/MOE regulated institution
First case: April 21, targeted screening
Total infected: 13 out of 651 screened
Pengkalan Batik cluster
District(s): Alor Gajah in Malacca
Locality/Source: An education institution at Jalan Pengkalan Batik, Alor Gajah
Cluster category: School/MOE regulated institution
First case: April 17, index case reported symptoms
Total infected: 37 out of 196 screened
Anggerik Cempaka cluster
District(s): Baling in Kedah
Locality/Source: School at Jalan Kulim-Baling, Baling
Cluster category: School/MOE regulated institution
First case: April 19, index case with symptoms
Total infected: 6 out of 87 screened
Jalan Langat Ceria cluster
District(s): Hulu Langat, Petaling, Klang, Kuala Langat, Gombak and Sepang in Selangor
Locality/Source: Educational institution at Jalan Langat Ceria 4, Taman Langat Ceria, Hulu Langat
Cluster category: Education
First case: April 18, index case with symptoms
Total infected: 50 out of 144 screened
Sungai Lemayong cluster
District(s): Meradong in Sarawak
Locality/Source: Vicinity of Sungai Lemayong
Cluster category: Community
First case: April 12, targeted screening
Total infected: 69 out of 151 screened
Pintasan Kampung Jawa cluster
District(s): Barat Daya, Timur Laut and Seberang Perai Tengah in Penang
Locality/Source: A factory at Pintasan Kampung Jawa 1, Kawasan Perindustrian Bayan Lepas, Barat Daya
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: April 6, targeted screening
Total infected: 30 out of 982 screened
Putra Tiga cluster
District(s): Putrajaya in WP Putrajaya, Petaling and Sepang in Selangor;Seremban in Negeri Sembilan
Locality/Source: Government building at Persiaran Perdana, Presint 3, Putrajaya
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: April 21, index case with symptoms
Total infected: 8 out of 33 screened
Duranda Emas cluster
District(s): Serian in Sarawak
Locality/Source: Vicinity of Taman Duranda Emas, Siburan, Serian
Cluster category: Community
First case: April 13, index case tested while crossing district borders
Total infected: 19 out of 75 screened
Taman Mesra Bako cluster
District(s): Kuching and Samarahan in Sarawak
Locality/Source: at Taman Mesra Bako, Jalan Bako, Kuching
Cluster category: Community
First case: April 9, index case with symptoms
Total infected: 50 out of 721 screened
Pagar Siput Dua cluster
District(s): Kota Tinggi in Johor
Locality/Source: A detention centre at Jalan Sungai Siput, Pekan Kota Tinggi, Kota Tinggi
Cluster category: Detention centre
First case: April 21
Total infected: 36 out of 169 screened
Jalan Perai Jaya cluster
District(s): Seberang Perai Utara, Seberang Perai Tengah and Seberang Perai Selatan in Penang
Locality/Source: Religious event held on April 8, 2021 in Jalan Perai Jaya, Bandar Perai Jaya, Seberang Perai Tengah
Cluster category: Religious event
First case: April 14, index case with symptoms
Total infected: 11 out of 14 screened
Source:Malaysiakini
Singapore tightens COVID-19 rules for travellers from India, cuts entry approvals for non-Singaporeans and PRs
SINGAPORE: COVID-19 border measures will be tightened for travellers from India, who will have to serve an additional seven days of stay-home notice at their residence following their 14-day stay-home notice at dedicated facilities, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Tuesday (Apr 20).
This follows a surge of COVID-19 infections in India in recent days.
The new requirement will take effect from Thursday at 11.59pm.
With immediate effect, Singapore will also reduce entry approvals for non-Singapore citizens or permanent residents due to the worsening situation in India and the emergence of new virus variants, said MOH.
READ: Hong Kong bans flights from India, Pakistan and the Philippines over mutant COVID-19 strain
READ: More than 50 on India flight to Hong Kong test positive for COVID-19
Travellers from India will be tested after their 14-day stay-home notice period, according to current requirements, and again after the seven-day stay-home notice period.
“Travellers who have yet to complete their 14-day stay-home notice by Apr 22, 2021, 11.59pm, will also be subjected to the additional seven-day stay-home period,” said MOH.
“Migrant workers arriving from India in the construction, marine and process sectors will continue to be subjected to a 21-day stay-home notice. These measures will minimise importation risks and protect public health.”
CNA has asked MOH for more details about the reduction of entry approvals for non-Singaporeans or permanent residents.
MEASURES EASED FOR TRAVELLERS FROM HONG KONG
The Health Ministry also announced that it is easing measures for travellers arriving from Hong Kong following an improvement of the COVID-19 situation in the city.
Their stay-home notice period will be reduced from 14 days to seven, and the notice period can be served at their place of residence “if suitable”, said MOH.
This will apply to travellers who have remained in Hong Kong in the last 14 consecutive days and who enter Singapore from Thursday 11.59pm.
They will be subject to a COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test on arrival and another swab before the end of their seven-day stay-home notice.
READ: COVID-19 measures eased for travellers from Hong Kong, UK, South Africa and vaccinated people in official delegations: MOH
At the same time, Singapore authorities will also begin allowing long-term pass holders and short-term visitors with recent travel history to the UK and South Africa.
“The multi-ministry taskforce regularly reviews Singapore’s border measures to manage the risk of importation from travellers and onward local transmission, taking into account the current situation in their source countries or regions,” said MOH.
INDIA RECORDS WORST DAILY DEATH TOLL
India, the country currently being hit hardest by the pandemic, on Tuesday reported its worst daily death toll, with large parts of the country now under lockdown amid a fast-rising second wave of infections.
Its health ministry said 1,761 people had died in the past day, bringing India’s toll to 180,530. It is well below the 567,538 deaths reported in the United States, although experts believe India’s actual deaths are far more than the official count.
The world’s second-most populous country is grappling with its biggest public health emergency after it lowered its guard when coronavirus infections fell to a multi-month low in February, said health experts and officials.
READ: India opens up COVID-19 jabs to all adults as New Delhi goes into lockdown
READ: For India’s poor, COVID-19 ‘pandemic policing’ adds to lockdown hardships
The US Centers for Disease Control and Protection has said all travel should be avoided to India, while Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson cancelled an official trip to New Delhi that had been scheduled for next week, and his government said it will add India to its travel “red list”.
Hong Kong also suspended flights from India from Tuesday, the same day that the city reported that at least 53 passengers on a flight from New Delhi tested positive for COVID-19.
Singapore’s Health Ministry on Tuesday said it will continue to adjust border measures to manage the risk of importation and transmission to the community as the global situation evolves.
Source: CNA/Reuters/jt(rw)
Covid-19 (April 20): 2k new cases for 6th straight day, K’tan sets new record
COVID-19 | The Health Ministry today reported 2,341 new Covid-19 cases and three deaths.
Malaysians comprise nearly all of the new Covid-19 infections (94.36 percent), indicative of foreign labour dependent industries no longer being the main source.
The Klang Valley accounted for 37.85 percent (886 cases) of new cases while East Malaysia made up 29.18 percent (683 cases).
- Active cases: 21,268
- Patients in ICUs: 249
- Intubated: 95
Breakdown by states
This marked the third day in a row Sarawak reported the highest number of new infections with 600 cases.
Kelantan also recorded its highest number of new cases since the pandemic with 429.
In both Sarawak and Kelantan, the source of new cases was primarily from existing clusters and close contacts.
Most parts of Kelantan are under movement control order (MCO) restrictions while interdistrict travel in most parts of Sarawak is still not allowed.
Kuala Lumpur reported 344 new cases, the highest in the territory since late February. Close to a third of those cases in Kuala Lumpur were found through “other testings”, where new infections were not linked to existing clusters or close contacts.
As of yesterday, the R-naught number for Malaysia stood at 1.17, up from a recent low of 0.81 as reported on March 8.
An R-naught number of more than 1.00 signified that the spread of Covid-19 was increasing. The only regions with an R-naught number of less than 1.00 are Penang, Labuan, Putrajaya, Pahang, Perak and Perlis.
Deaths
There was one Covid-19 death reported for Selangor, Sarawak and Sabah respectively. The national Covid-19 death toll stands at 1,389.
The age of the victims was between 65 and 75. Details of the victims are documented in Malaysiakini’s Covid-19 tracker site.
Clusters
The Health Ministry said 340 clusters are still active, down from 421 clusters reported a month ago.
There were 67 clusters with new cases today and seven new ones classified.
Notably, two schools were involved in the Jalan Pasir Mas-Pohon Tanjung and Jalan Padang Lallang clusters.
Details of the new clusters are as follows:
Kampung Tengah Betong cluster
District(s): Betong in Sarawak
Locality/Source: Vicinity of Kampung Tengah, Betong
Cluster category: Community
First case: April 9, index case reported symptoms
Total infected: 15 out of 381 screened
Sungai Rian cluster
District(s): Meradong in Sarawak
Locality/Source: Vicinity of Sungai Rian, Bintangor
Cluster category: Community
First case: April 12, targeted screening
Total infected: 48 out of 119 screened
Jalan Meranti cluster
District(s): Hulu Selangor and Gombak in Selangor
Locality/Source: Social event at Jalan Meranti 3A/14, Bandar Baru Batang Kali, Hulu Selangor on April 10
Cluster category: Community
First case: April 15, index case reported symptoms
Total infected: 9 out of 50 screened
Taman Dato Senu cluster
District(s): Kepong and Titiwangsa in Kuala Lumpur
Locality/Source: Social event on April 10 at Taman Dato Senu, Kepong
Cluster category: Community
First case: April 20, index case reported symptoms
Total infected: 12 out of 55 screened
Jalan Pasir Mas-Pohon Tanjung cluster
District(s): Pasir Mas and Tanah Merah in Kelantan
Locality/Source: An education institution at Jalan Pasir Mas-Pohon Tanjung, Pasir Mas
Cluster category: Education
First case: April 14, index case reported symptoms
Total infected: 28 out of 46 screened
Jalan Padang Lallang cluster
District(s): Seberang Perai Tengah in Penang
Locality/Source: School at Jalan Padang Lallang, Bukit Mertajam, Seberang Perai Tengah
Cluster category: School/MOE regulated institution
First case: April 17, index case reported symptoms
Total infected: 9 out of 39 screened
Hala Kampung Jawa cluster
District(s): Timur Laut, Barat Daya and Seberang Perai Utara in Penang
Locality/Source: A factory at Hala Kampung Jawa 2, Kawasan Perindustrian Bayan Lepas, Barat Daya
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: April 5, targeted screening
Total infected: 23 out of 286 screened
Source:Malaysiakini
Covid-19 (April 19): 2,078 new infections, active cases break 20k
The Health Ministry today reported 2,078 new Covid-19 cases.
The number of new cases in Selangor, a long-time Covid-19 epicentre, remains stable at 457 new cases.
However, fresh infections in Sarawak and Kelantan remain elevated compared to the previous weeks.
Sarawak again recorded the highest number of new cases today, with 589 fresh infections.
Meanwhile, Kelantan recorded 290 new infections, the second-highest on record for the state.
These infections comprised 90.71 percent Malaysians and 9.29 percent non-citizens.
The Klang Valley and East Malaysia accounted for 29.45 percent (612 cases) and 34.65 percent (720 cases) of the new infections, respectively.
Active cases breached 20,000 for the first time since March 7.
This was due to fresh infections surpassing the number of recoveries for 13 consecutive days. There were 1,402 new recoveries today.
Active cases had remained at the 14,000 range for 23 consecutive days, but from April 10, it quickly skyrocketed from 15,059 to 20,522 today.
- Active cases: 20,522
- Patients in ICUs: 228
- Intubated: 93
Deaths
There were eight fatalities today, bringing the death toll to 1,386.
The new deaths were recorded in Sarawak (3), Sabah (2), Selangor (2) and Kuala Lumpur (1).
Those who died were aged between 35 and 89.
for a detailed breakdown of the reported deaths today, please refer to our Covid-19 tracker site.
New cases by states
Sarawak (589)
Selangor (457)
Kelantan (290)
Kuala Lumpur (153)
Sabah (125)
Johor (115)
Negeri Sembilan (91)
Penang (91)
Kedah (48)
Perak (43)
Pahang (32)
Malacca (27)
Terengganu (8)
Labuan (6)
Putrajaya (2)
Perlis (1)
Clusters
A total of 340 out of 1,534 clusters are still active. From the active clusters, 63 of them contributed to the new cases today.
This includes the 14 clusters reported today as well as another 12 that were declared resolved.
The resolved clusters are: Taman Tunku, Jalan Helang, Jalan Delima, Jalan Mega Lima, Jalan Kunci Air, Kampung Nyatoh, Jalan PKNK 1/6, Jalan Sikamat Lama, Batu Empat, Jalan Tun Razak, DTI Machap Umboo and Lagenda Suria.
Most notably, six out of the 14 new clusters today involve education institutions.
Details of the new clusters are as follow:
Tangok cluster
District(s): Bachok, Kota Bharu and Machang in Kelantan
Locality/Source: An education institution at Kampung Tangok, Bachok
Cluster category: Education
First case: April 15
Total infected: 15 out of 139 screened
Pulai Chondong cluster
District(s): Machang, Bachok and Pasir Mas in Kelantan
Locality/Source: An education institution at Pulai Chondong, Machang
Cluster category: Education
First case: April 16
Total infected: 23 out of 199 screened
Jalan Tagasan cluster
District(s): Semporna in Sabah
Locality/Source: An education institution at Jalan Tagasan P/S 521, Kampung Tagasan Tani, Semporna
Cluster category: Education
First case: April 9
Total infected: 6 out of 109 screened
Jalan Medan Aliff cluster
District(s): Johor Bahru in Johor
Locality/Source: An education institution at Jalan Medan Aliff Harmoni 1/2, Taman Damansara Aliff, Johor Bahru
Cluster category: Education
First case: April 15
Total infected: 9 out of 67 screened
Jalan Weng cluster
District(s): Baling in Kedah
Locality/Source: An education institution at Jalan Weng, Bongor, Baling
Cluster category: Education
First case: April 19
Total infected: 11 out of 121 screened
Jalan Hospital cluster
District(s): Pasir Mas in Kelantan
Locality/Source: A school at Jalan Hospital, Kampung Kubang Terap, Pasir Mas
Cluster category: School/Education Ministry institution
First case: April 13
Total infected: 50 out of 525 screened
Sungai Duan cluster
District(s): Mukah in Sarawak
Locality/Source: Sungai Duan, Mukah
Cluster category: Community
First case: April 2
Total infected: 84 out of 321 screened
Sungai Passin cluster
District(s): Matu and Sibu in Sarawak
Locality/Source: Sungai Passin, Matu
Cluster category: Community
First case: April 2
Total infected: 49 out of 441 screened
Sungai Selitut cluster
District(s): Bintulu and Tatau in Sarawak
Locality/Source: Sungai Selitut, Tatau
Cluster category: Community
First case: April 11
Total infected: 18 out of 65 screened
Jalan Bandar Universiti cluster
District(s): Perak Tengah and Manjung in Perak; Titiwangsa in Kuala Lumpur
Locality/Source: An event at Bandar Universiti, Seri Iskandar, Perak that took place on March 26
Cluster category: Community
First case: April 13
Total infected: 13 out of 107 screened
Jalan Sulah 16 cluster
District(s): Klang in Selangor
Locality/Source: A factory at Jalan Lada Sulah 16/11, Shah Alam, Petaling
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: April 13
Total infected: 46 out of 549 screened
Jalan Cahaya Baru cluster
District(s): Batu Pahat in Johor and Kepong in Kuala Lumpur
Locality/Source: A restaurant at Jalan Cahaya Baru, Yong Peng, Batu Pahat
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: April 14
Total infected: 20 out of 90 screened
Cyber Park cluster
District(s): Kulai in Johor
Locality/Source: A factory at Jalan Cyber 14, Kawasan Perindustrian Senai 4, Kulai
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: April 19
Total infected: 9 out of 21 screened
Bayan Cenderawasih cluster
District(s): Kota Setar in Kedah
Locality/Source: Jalan Bayan and Jalan Cenderawasih, Alor Setar
Cluster category: Religious event
First case: April 16
Total infected: 10 out of 38 screened
Covid-19 (April 18): 2k cases for fourth consecutive day, new record in K’tan
COVID-19 | The Health Ministry today reported 2,195 new Covid-19 cases, the fourth consecutive day where daily fresh infections are above 2,000.
Sarawak topped the chart with 508 new Covid-19 cases. The state reported the most number of fresh infections in five out of the last seven days.
Meanwhile, the situation in Kelantan appears to be deteriorating with 332 new Covid-19 cases, a record high for the state.
Johor also saw an elevated number of cases at 387, the highest since March 5.
The new infections comprised 83.69 percent Malaysians and 16.31 percent non-citizens.
Active cases continued to rise steeply as the number of new cases significantly outstripped recoveries. A total of 1,427 Covid-19 patients recovered today.
- Active cases: 19,854
- Patients in ICUs: 219
- Intubated: 90
Deaths
There were eight fatalities today, bringing the death toll to 1,378.
The new deaths were recorded in Selangor (2), Kelantan (2) Kuala Lumpur (1) Sarawak (1), Sabah (1) and Penang (1).
Those who died were aged between 37 and 90.
For a detailed breakdown of the reported deaths today, please refer to our Covid-19 tracker site.
New cases by states
Clusters
A total of 338 out of 1,520 clusters are still active. From the active clusters, 64 of them contributed to the new cases today.
This includes the five clusters reported today. Another 14 clusters were declared resolved.
The resolved clusters are: D Gana, Jalan Permas Baru, Buloh Pasi, Sena, Industri Inanam, Perusahaan 10, Tapak Bina Queens Waterfront, Sungai Bakong, Jalan Kayu Manis, Dataran Utas, Bukit Tambun, Jalan Lapan Belas, Jalan Sutera and Jalan Green.
Details of the new clusters are as follows:
Selat Klang cluster
District(s): Klang and Petaling in Selangor
Locality/Source: A company at Jalan Pelabuhan Utara, Pelabuhan Klang, Selangor
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: April 14
Total infected: 25 out of 101 screened
Tapak Bina Cahaya Alam cluster
District(s): Petaling in Selangor
Locality/Source: A construction site at Cahaya Alam, Shah Alam
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: April 10
Total infected: 20 out of 203 screened
Jalan Perindustrian Satu cluster
District(s): Muar in Johor
Locality/Source: A collection of factories at Jalan Perindustrian 1, Batu 8, Kawasan perindustrian Bukit Bakri, Muar.
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: April 14
Total infected: 254 out of 980 screened
Tarat Tani cluster
District(s): Serian in Sarawak
Locality/Source: Index case’s residence at Tarat, Serian
Cluster category: Community
First case: April 11
Total infected: 21 out of 320 screened
Jalan Bintulu Sibu cluster
District(s): Tatau and Bintulu in Sarawak
Locality/Source: An education institution at Jalan Bintulu Sibu, Tatau
Cluster category: School / Education Ministry’s institution
First case: April 9
Total infected: 11 out of 546 screened
Source:Malaysiakini
Commentary: China’s pineapple ban another prickle in relations with Taiwan
ATLANTA, Georgia: Beijing suddenly announced on Feb 26 that it would suspend pineapple imports from Taiwan starting Mar 1, citing pests detected on the pineapples.
The Taiwan pineapple ban is reminiscent of China’s ban on Philippine bananas in the aftermath of the Scarborough Shoal standoff in April 2012, when China similarly cited pests on Philippine fruits to deny their importation.
Taiwan’s partners, including Japan and the United States, quickly took action to show their solidarity with the island.
Unlike the banana ban in 2012, this pineapple ban’s timing appears mysterious because no incident preceded the suspension. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen called the announcement “ambush-like”.
TRIANGULAR DYNAMICS
The larger background to this ban involves the triangular dynamics between Beijing, Taipei and Washington.
The Biden administration’s statements and actions since its inauguration indicate that it will continue the Trump administration’s strong support of Taiwan.
READ: Commentary: How China will try to subdue Taiwan – without firing a bullet
The pineapple ban is Beijing’s signal to Taipei that it cannot circumvent the influence of Beijing over its affairs, even with US support.
The ban could also be explained with reference to Taiwan’s pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government having recently reshuffled its Mainland Affairs Council (MAC).
The new MAC head has signalled optimistic expectations in breaking the cross-Strait impasse.
The pineapple ban lays bare the reality of cross-Strait relations when there is no official channel to deal with an issue as minor as “harmful creatures” found on pineapples.
READ: Commentary: Continued US trade war with China could stoke inflation
Beijing reiterated its political precondition for exchange – that Taipei needs to find a way to come to terms with Beijing’s “one China” principle – and laid the blame for disrupted cross-Strait relations on the DPP government.
The ban might just be another attempt to squeeze Taiwan, the newest measure in a long process that kicked off in 2016.
China has thwarted Taiwan’s international participation, most noticeably in the World Health Organization (WHO) during the pandemic.
The Chinese military has increased its vessels in areas around Taiwan, most recently intruding into Taiwan’s southwest air defence identification zone.
Economically, China has cut tourists to Taiwan and suspended its contract production with the island. The pineapple ban falls under this last category of measures.
APPLYING CORE PRESSURE
Beijing’s aim is not to economically sanction Taiwan as a whole but to target sanctions against the DPP’s core constituencies.
These include the so-called “three middles and one youth” who tend to be more sympathetic to the DPP: Middle-to-small businesses, middle-to-southern Taiwan, middle-to-low-income people, and Taiwan’s youth.
READ: Commentary: China’s foreign loans, as a recent study shows, is full of ‘Chinese characteristics’
The pineapple farmers fall into the overlap of several of these categories. It has been rumoured that China’s next sanction target might be wax apples, predominantly grown in southern Taiwan.
Since the ban, Taipei has tried to highlight what it perceives as Beijing’s coercion and has sought to garner international support by launching a #FreedomPineapples campaign. The slogan mimics the #FreedomWine tagline supporting Australian wines sanctioned by China.
Australia and Taiwan’s cases are similar because China denied access to its massive market as a tool of economic coercion to signal its displeasure with Canberra’s and Taipei’s political behaviour.
Both instances also show China’s preference for grey-zone trade coercion by cutting off market access on regulatory grounds. This form of coercion allows China to deny it is using economic sanctions.
ONE CHINA POLICY
The cases of Australia and Taiwan also differ in significant ways. China’s dispute with Taiwan is fundamentally about Taiwan’s status — the “one China” issue — which China does not expect to find a solution to in the short term.
READ: Commentary: Don’t be too quick to dismiss the economic benefits of RCEP for Southeast Asia
China’s disputes with Australia are about Canberra’s policies, including the banning of Huawei in Australia’s 5G construction and calling for an independent investigation into China’s handling of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Policy issues between China and Australia will shift continually. Beijing has targeted some of Australia’s largest exports to China to deter Canberra from encroaching on China’s interests in the future.
Beijing has not targeted Taiwan’s top exports to China. Taiwan’s pineapples rely primarily on the domestic market, with exports to China only accounting for 9 per cent of sales. China also hopes to win Taiwan’s hearts and minds.
Following the pineapple ban, Beijing announced a package of 22 new incentive measures, including offering land and financial support to encourage Taiwan’s agricultural businesses to invest in China.
If China presses too hard on Taiwan’s status, there is a genuine risk that economic coercion could transition into armed conflict. Taipei may show its defiance by moving towards independence and this might force Beijing’s hand.
READ: Commentary: The broader dialogue the US-China relationship needs
READ: Commentary: The Quad has a plan and it’s not all about China
China has avoided putting all-out economic pressure on Taiwan to allow both sides an opportunity to maintain peace, despite an increasingly tense relationship.
The pineapple ban might not actually be pre-meditated and China’s phytosanitary concerns could be real.
But by choosing not to talk to Taipei to resolve the issue, Beijing’s message has been delivered: Taiwan cannot circumvent China and, without a common political understanding, breaking the cross-Strait impasse will remain wishful thinking.
Dalton Lin is Assistant Professor at the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, Georgia Institute of Technology, and the Executive Editor of Taiwan Security Research. This commentary first appeared on East Asia Forum. Read it here.
Source: CNA/ml
Source : Malaysiakini
Myanmar shadow government wants ASEAN crisis talks invite
YANGON: Myanmar’s shadow government on Sunday (Apr 18) urged Southeast Asian leaders to give it a seat at the table during crisis talks next week, and not to recognise the military regime that seized power in a February coup.
Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing is expected to join a special Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit on Saturday in Jakarta, his first official overseas trip since the putsch that ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The army has moved to quell mass protests against its rule, killing at least 730 people, according to a local monitoring group.
Min Aung Hlaing’s invitation to the meeting of the 10-country ASEAN has drawn scorn from activists who have urged foreign leaders not to formally recognise the junta.
Moe Zaw Oo, deputy minister of foreign affairs for the parallel “national unity government” – formed on Friday by ousted lawmakers mostly from Aung San Suu Kyi’s party, as well as ethnic-minority politicians – said ASEAN had not reached out to them.
“If ASEAN wants to help solve the Myanmar situation, they are not going to achieve anything without consulting and negotiating with the NUG, which is supported by the people and has full legitimacy,” he told Voice of America’s Burmese service.
“It’s important that this military council is not recognised. This needs to be handled carefully.”
READ: Opponents of Myanmar coup form unity government, aim for ‘federal democracy’
Unrest continued across the country on Sunday, with protesters rallying in Mandalay, Meiktila, Magway and Myingyan, showing support for the national unity government.
At Palaw in the country’s south, demonstrators brandished banners that read: “Military dictators should not be allowed to rule. The dictatorship will be uprooted. Support the national unity government.”
Young demonstrators also staged motorbike rallies while carrying flags in Hpakant and Sagaing.
The previous night, there were violent clashes in the central gem-producing city of Mogok when security forces cracked down on protesters.
According to an AFP-verified video filmed by a resident, soldiers crouched on a street as their commanding officer shouted that he wanted “deaths”.
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners verified two deaths at Mogok.
READ: Myanmar anti-coup protesters throw red paint in the streets as death toll mounts
Much of Myanmar remains under a curfew imposed shortly after the coup, running from 8pm to 4am every day.
Late on Saturday, a young man was shot and killed in Kyaukme town in northern Shan state while riding his motorbike during the curfew.
“He was shot by the authorities when he and other his friends drove motorbikes around 9pm. He was shot in the head,” a rescue worker told AFP, adding that his funeral would take place on Sunday.
Source: AFP/vc
Covid-19 (April 17): 1,007 new cases in the Klang Valley alone
COVID-19 | The Health Ministry today reported 2,331 new Covid-19 cases of which 1,007 were reported in the Klang Valley alone.
There were also five deaths.
The new infections comprised 90 percent Malaysians and 10 percent non-citizens.
Meanwhile, 1,832 Covid-19 patients recovered today but they were outpaced by new infections, resulting in a rise in active cases and increasing the strain on Covid-19 hospitals.
- Active cases: 19,094
- Patients in ICUs: 225
- Intubated: 92
States
Selangor recorded the highest number of new infections today with 751 cases.
This was followed by Sarawak at 512 cases, Kuala Lumpur at 252, and Kelantan at 225.
Deaths
There were five fatalities today, bringing the death toll to 1,370.
The new deaths were recorded in Selangor (2), Sabah (2), and Sarawak (1).
Those who died were aged between 61 and 86.
For a detailed breakdown of the reported deaths today, please refer to our Covid-19 tracker site.
Clusters
A total of 347 out of 1,515 clusters are still active. From the active clusters, 69 of them contributed to the new cases today.
This includes the eight clusters reported today as well as another cluster that was previously declared resolved.
The resolved clusters today are: Pulau Pisang, Bukit Marak, Dagang Permai, Perusahaan Jalan Bukit, Jalan Lapangan Terbang, Jalan Rawang, and Teratai.
The Teratai cluster – which is linked to rubber glove factories – is the biggest cluster to date, with 7,205 cases at the close. It was first classified on Nov 7 last year.
Details of the new clusters are as follows:
Jalan Ding Lik Kwong cluster
District(s): Sibu in Sarawak
Locality/Source: Public institution at Jalan Ding Lik Kwong, Sibu
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: April 13
Total infected: 16 out of 43 screened
Jalan Damai Tawau cluster
District(s): Tawau in Sabah
Locality/Source: Service centre at Jalan Damai, Tawau
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: April 13
Total infected: 14 out of 65 screened
Bukit Quoin cluster
District(s): Tawau in Sabah
Locality/Source: Public institution at Tawau, Sabah
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: April 10
Total infected: 11 out of 18 screened
Jalan Wawasan Lima cluster
District(s): Batu Pahat in Johor
Locality/Source: A factory at Jalan Wawasan 5, Batu Pahat
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: April 12
Total infected: 10 out of 178 screened
Ulu Balingian cluster
District(s): Selangau in Sarawak
Locality/Source: A school at Ulu Balingian, Selangau
Cluster category: Education institute
First case: April 17
Total infected: 101 out of 200 screened
Jalan Disa cluster
District(s): Sibu in Sarawak
Locality/Source: School at Jalan Disa, Sibu
Cluster category: Education institute
First case: April 14
Total infected: 20 out of 199 screened
Jalan Maktab cluster
District(s): Sepang and Hulu Langat in Selangor; Putrajaya
Locality/Source: Education institute at Jalan Maktab, Bandar Baru Bangi, Sepang
Cluster category: Education institute
First case: April 15
Total infected: 9 out of 42 screened
Seri Kuantan cluster
District(s): Kuantan in Pahang; Cheras in Kuala Lumpur
Locality/Source: Event in Kuala Lumpur on April 10
Cluster category: Community
First case: April 16
Total infected: 18 out of 111 screened
Covid-19 (April 16): 2,551 new cases, Sarawak erupts
COVID-19 | The Health Ministry reported 2,551 new Covid-19 cases, with Sarawak setting a new daily record of 960.
East Malaysia reported more infections with 43.28 percent (1,104 cases) of today’s total cases compared to the Klang Valley (32.97 percent, 841 cases).
The number of active Covid-19 cases have risen for 10 days straight, while the number of patients requiring intensive care had been on a six-day uptrend.
- Active cases – 18,600
- Patients in ICU – 227
- Intubated – 91
States
Nearly a third of new cases (315) in Sarawak were attributed to a police training centre in Puncak Borneo, south of Kuching in what is known as the Jalan Puncak Borneo cluster.
The police training centre has been subjected to an enhanced movement control order (MCO).
New cases in Selangor (590) have not been this high since March 12 while Kuala Lumpur (245) have not seen such high numbers since Feb 28.
As of yesterday, the R-naught for the entire country had risen to 1.17, up from a low of 0.81 on March 3. An R-naught of more than 1.00 suggests that the Covid-19 rate of spread is increasing.
The only regions where the figure was less than 1.00 are Penang, Johor, Labuan and Perlis.
Deaths
There were two Covid-19 related deaths reported today. The national death toll stood at 1,365.
The fatalities were reported in Selangor involving two male citizens.
The Klang Valley alone accounted for 36.1 percent of total Covid-19 deaths in the country.
The victims’ details are recorded in Malaysiakini’s Covid-19 tracker site.
Clusters
Some 346 clusters are still active, of which 68 saw new cases being added today.
According to the ministry, the most active cluster is the aforementioned Jalan Puncak Borneo cluster. This cluster was classified three days ago.
The second most active is the Jalan Bambangan cluster in Sarawak (99 new cases) and DTI Sandakan, Sabah (55).
Seven new clusters were classified by the Health Ministry today. Notably, one cluster – Jalan Kia Peng – involved an entertainment centre.
Two new clusters were discovered as a result of targeted screening of detention centres.
Details of the new clusters are as follows:
Jalan Sultan Iskandar cluster
District(s): Bintulu, Sarawak
Locality/Source: Government building in Jalan Sultan Iskandar, Bintulu
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: April 7, index case reported symptoms
Total infected: 27 out of 440 screened
Jalan Balakong cluster
District(s): Hulu Langat, Selangor
Locality/Source: Construction company at Jalan Balakong, Seri Kembangan, Hulu Langat
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: March 25, targeted screening
Total infected: 19 out of 29 screened
Jalan Kia Peng cluster
District(s): Lembah Pantai, Kepong and Cheras, Kuala Lumpur
Locality/Source: Entertainment centre at Jalan Kia Peng, Kuala Lumpur
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: April 13, index case reported symptoms
Total infected: 8 out of 18 screened
DTI Sandakan cluster
District(s): Sandakan, Sabah
Cluster category: Detention centre
First case: April 16, targeted screening
Total infected: 55 out of 641 screened
DTI Lenggeng cluster
District(s): Seremban and Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan
Cluster category: Detention centre
First case: April 10, targeted screening
Total infected: 70 out of 181 screened
Jepak cluster
District(s): Bintulu, Sarawak
Locality/Source: Social function at Kampung Jepak, Bintulu on April 3
Cluster category: Community
First case: April 8, index case reported symptoms
Total infected: 50 out of 402 screened
Sri Layang cluster
District(s): Bentong, Pahang
Locality/Source: Educational institution at Sri Layang, Bentong
Cluster category: Education
First case: April 11, index case reported symptoms
Total infected: 16 out of 420 screened
Source:Malaysiakini
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