Coronavirus: Malaysia reports biggest jump in cases, Indonesia and Singapore confirm more infections

Announcement on Friday brings Malaysia’s total confirmed cases to 83

Indonesia confirmed on Friday that two more people had tested positive for the coronavirus and Singapore confirmed 13 new cases

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A woman wearing a protective mask walks past a shopping centre in Jakarta, Indonesia. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 7:27pm, 6 Mar 2020Updated: 12:35am, 19 Mar 2020

Malaysia saw its largest one-day jump in Covid-19 cases on Friday with 28 new cases reported, bringing the cumulative number of coronavirus cases in Malaysia to 83 – the country’s largest spike after weeks of numbers hovering below 30.

Singapore also had it’s biggest jump in cases on Friday, with 13 new confirmed infections, and Indonesia reported that two more people had tested positive.

“The expected spike of cases was linked to the close contacts of cluster case 26. The total cumulative cases are 83 and 23 cases have been discharged well,” said Health Ministry director general Noor Hisham Abdullah in a statement, referring to Malaysia’s Patient 26, who has been identified as the index patient for over 250 close contact cases and passed the virus to at least 21 others.

Although Patient 26 does not constitute a “super spreader”, Noor Hisham described the case earlier this week as “definitely more extraordinary” than others.

Malaysian Health director general Noor Hisham Abdullah. Photo: dpa

So far, 956 close contacts have been identified, with 258 related to Malaysia’s Patient 26. Meanwhile, 23 patients have fully recovered and have been discharged, one of which was announced today.