The latest victim is a 50-year-old man linked to the Sri Petaling mosque tabligh convention, according to health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.
Noor Hisham also said there were 153 new cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of infected people to 1,183 nationwide.
Among the latest batch, 90 patients were traced to the tabligh convention held at the Sri Petaling mosque in Kuala Lumpur late last month, where a large number of infections have been reported.
Noor Hisham said 37 patients are currently being treated in the intensive care unit (ICU).
He said 27 patients have recovered, bringing the total number discharged so far to 114.
The latest death – Case No. 238 – had been admitted to Hospital Melaka on March 12 with severe acute respiratory infection. He was given respiratory assistance in the ICU but his health deteriorated and he was confirmed dead at 1.30am today.
Yesterday, a 58-year-old man who had been warded at the Tawau Hospital died. He was also linked to the Sri Petaling mosque cluster.
On Tuesday, Malaysia recorded its first two deaths – a 60-year-old pastor from Sarawak, and a 34-year-old man from Johor Bahru who had attended the tabligh gathering.
Noor Hisham also said that 24 medical staff, including five from the private sector, have tested positive for Covid-19, with two from public hospitals being treated in the ICU.
“The source of infection for the 19 health ministry staff is not due to non-adherence while handling Covid-19 cases in their respective facilities.
“Investigations indicate that they all had close contact with the first and second generation (cases) involving the tabligh cluster,” he said.
As of March 14, a total of 337 health ministry staff had been screened, with 251 testing negative. The results of 86 more are pending.
The ministry has also identified 26 hospitals to treat Covid-19 cases.
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