KUALA LUMPUR, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia on Friday announced a third fatality due to COVID-19 besides 130 newly confirmed cases, bringing the total number in the country to 1,030, said the Health Ministry.
The third death was a 58-year-old man who attended a large scale religious event held near the capital of Kuala Lumpur from late February to early March, Health Ministry Director-General Noor Hisham Abdullah said.
Of the new cases, at least 48 were traced to the same event, Noor Hisham said in an earlier daily update of the outbreak.
Meanwhile, out of the total cases, 87 have been cured and discharged from hospital, while 26 were currently being held in intensive care and in need of assisted breathing.
Noor Hisham also advised those staying at home to practice good hygiene, sanitize their homes and living spaces and to maintain a healthy lifestyle while being confined indoors.
In a post on social media, Noor Hisham said 12 public healthcare workers and three from the private healthcare sector have been infected by the COVID-19 virus. One of 12 public health staff is currently in ICU on ventilatory support.
Malaysia is implementing a two-week "movement control order" including closing shops and schools as well as imposing travel bans, calling for residents to stay at home in an effort to contain the COVID-19 outbreak.
Meanwhile the Prime Minister's Office issued a statement announcing the armed forces would be deployed to assist the police in enforcement.
"The public is advised to comply with any order from the authorities as needed under the movement control order. Stern action will be taken against those who are stubborn and do not comply with the order," it said.
In a televised address, Malaysia's King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah on Friday urged Malaysians to refrain from unnecessary travel, to comply with measures imposed by the authorities and not spread rumors or incorrect information.
He added that the public need not panic as there were sufficient supplies of essential items, calling on the public to stop panic buying.
