Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report Weekly report for the week ending 27 December 2020

Malaysia Situation summary  As of 27 December 2020, there have been a total of 105 096 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Malaysia.  In the past seven days: o A total of 11 787 new cases were reported, a 19.9% increase compared to the previous week. o Of the new cases reported, only 47 (0.4%) were imported. o Fifteen new deaths were reported, bringing the total number of COVID-19 deaths in Malaysia to 452.  On 26 December, 2335 new cases were reported – the highest single-day report of new cases to date.  The reproductive number (Rt) as of 26 December 2020 is 1.12.  Increasing numbers of cases continue to be reported with further geographical spread. Cases are linked mostly to existing clusters, with increasing numbers of clusters being reported, especially in urban centres such as the Valley ( and the Federal Territory of ), and Penang.

Upcoming events and priorities  Vaccine procurement and roll-out – as reported in the media: o The COVID-19 Vaccine Committee will be submitting a National Vaccination Plan in January 2021. The plan will include further details on how COVID-19 vaccinations will be put in place nationwide. o Vaccines must be registered with the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) for approval. Phases in the approval and roll-out process will include: - Evaluation by NPRA of documents received by vaccine manufacturers. - Procurement and logistics matters related to the vaccine. - Determination of who will be given vaccine priority. The Ministry of Health (MOH) is currently considering health-care workers and front-line workers as first receivers. - Monitoring of the effects and safety of the vaccine. o The government has signed an agreement with AstraZeneca to purchase 6.4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine. This purchase will cover 10% of the Malaysian population. o Small children will not be among the first to receive the COVID-19 vaccine due to the absence of clinical trial among this age group. o The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) is developing a COVID-19 inoculation list of recommendations to include vaccination of prisoners and foreign workers. o Religious authorities have stated that the COVID-19 vaccine is permissible for use among Muslims.  MOH authorities have reported the detection of a COVID-19 mutation strain, A701B, among 60 samples taken from cases linked to the Benteng LD cluster in Sabah. Presently, there is a lack of concurrence on the mutation’s impact on virus infectivity. The A701B mutation has been previously detected in South Africa, Australia, the Netherlands and Singapore.  MOH authorities have reported that they have received no reports, to date, of the new United Kingdom COVID-19 variant (VUI 202012/01) in Malaysia.  Health authorities have advised those who have tested positive for COVID-19 and are asymptomatic to self-isolate at home while waiting for transportation to hospitals. This is due to the current high number of COVID-19 cases and logistics issues related to patient transportation.

1 of 3

1 Malaysia Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report Weekly report for the week ending 27 December 2020

National transmission assessment

At the national level, Malaysia remains in Stage 2, localized community transmission. The total number of cases reported in the past seven days increased by about 20% compared to the previous week, with Saturday, 26 December recording the highest single-day number of reported cases at 2335. Selangor and the Federal Territory (FT) of Kuala Lumpur continue to be the two states/FTs with the greatest number of new cases reported. In the week ending 27 December, Selangor reported 4807 new cases (40.8% of total) and FT Kuala Lumpur reported 2306 cases (19.6% of total). While most cases are linked to existing clusters, 2032 (17.2%) cases were reported as unlinked at the time of reporting. Of these, 908 were reported in Selangor. The number of cases reported in other states is also rising with an increase in geographical spread. The numbers of cases in Selangor, Penang, Negeri Sembilan, Sabah, FT Kuala Lumpur and FT Labuan remain high due to the expansion of COVID-19 screenings among foreign employees. Pahang, Terengganu, Perlis, Malacca and Sarawak have been placed under recovery movement control orders (RMCO) until 31 December. The conditional movement control orders (CMCO) in Selangor, FT Kuala Lumpur and Sabah have been extended to 31 December 2020.

EPI Update Tests Cases Deaths ICU COVID-19 Data reported for 155 625 11 787 15 22.2% EPI week ending Tests in the New cases in the Deaths in the ICU utilization rate 27 December past 7 days past 7 days past 7 days (-4.3%) (-3.4%) 2020 (+19.9%) (-31.8%) (% difference compared to the

previous 7 days) 3 257 503 105 096 452 500 Cumulative tests Cumulative cases Cumulative ICU beds for COVID-19 3.23% deaths patients Positivity rate 0.4% Case fatality rate

Imported 47 2032 213 NA Active clusters Active clusters with cases and (0.4%) (17.2%) more than three clusters Imported cases in the Cases in the past 7 generations past 7 days days with no link

2 of 3

2 Malaysia Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report Weekly report for the week ending 27 December 2020

Epidemiology

Fig 1. Daily reported COVID-19 cases, Malaysia, as of 27 December 2020

Geographical distribution of active cases

Table 1: Active cases by state, as of 27 December 2020  Sabah 3243  N Sembilan 905  Johor 2028  Terengganu 20  Selangor 8194  Perak 553  Malacca 385  112  Penang 549  FT Labuan 194  Sarawak 5  Pahang 145  Kedah 111  FT Kuala Lumpur 4379  FT 49  Perlis 0 This state-level reporting is on a rolling 14-day basis, from 14 to 27 December 2020, and excludes imported cases.

Clusters  Of the 484 clusters identified in Malaysia, 213 are currently active.  Nationwide, 41 new clusters were identified last week, with 24 identified at workplaces including construction sites. Among these, nine clusters were reported in FT Kuala Lumpur and seven clusters were reported in Selangor.  In the past seven days, 27 clusters have been declared closed.

3 of 3

3 Malaysia Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report Weekly report for the week ending 27 December 2020

Table 2: New clusters reported in the week ending 27 December 2020 Cluster name State Total Date first Notes cases reported Pekapuri Selangor 322 21  Gombak December  Targeted workplace screening from 21 December Batu Besar Selangor 59 21  Klang December  Targeted workplace screening from 18 December Tower Selangor 30 21  Gombak, Hulu Langat, , FT Kuala December Lumpur (Cheras, ), Pahang (Temerloh)  Targeted workplace screening from 17 December Tapak Bina FT Kuala 29 21  Kepong Pelangi Lumpur December  Targeted workplace screening (construction site) from 21 December Wawasan Selangor 7 21  Petaling, FT Kuala Lumpur (), FT December Putrajaya  Index case (#88 426): symptomatic screening on 17 December Delima FT Kuala 10 21  Titiwangsa, Selangor (Gombak, Hulu Langat) Lumpur December  Index case (#84 410): symptomatic screening on 14 December J Bandar FT 35 21  Index case (#87 879): targeted workplace Labuan December screening on 16 December May Indah Penang 32 21  Timur Laut, Barat Daya, Seberang Perai Utara, December Seberang Perai Tengah, Seberang Perai Selatan  Index cases (#78 218, #78 219): targeted workplace screening on 10 December Pasar Baru Selangor 353 22  Klang, Kuala Langat December  Index case (#85 580): symptomatic screening on 15 December Bukit Naga Selangor 58 22  Klang December  Targeted workplace (construction site) screening from 13 December Tapak Bina FT Kuala 437 22  Lembah Pantai Residen Lumpur December  Targeted workplace (construction site) screening from 22 December Tapak Bina FT Kuala 43 22  Kepong Kasih Lumpur December  Targeted workplace (construction site) screening from 22 December Tapak Bina FT Kuala 34 22  Kepong Sinar View Lumpur December  Targeted workplace screening from 22 December Paginatan Sabah 67 22  Ranau, Papar, Kota Belud December  Index case (#85 057): symptomatic screening on 15 December Tampoi Jaya Johor 347 22  Johor Bahru December  Index case (#88 947): symptomatic screening on 17 December Rapat Perak 25 22  Kinta December 4 of 3

4 Malaysia Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report Weekly report for the week ending 27 December 2020

 Index case (#87 874): symptomatic screening on 16 December Tapak Bina FT Kuala 21 23  Lembah Pantai Jalan Panah Lumpur December  Targeted workplace (construction site) screening from 7 December Menara FT Kuala 36 23  Lembah Pantai, Cheras, Titiwangsa, Selangor Wang Lumpur December (Petaling, Klang, Sepang, Hulu Langat), Pahang (Maran, Kuantan)  Index case (#88 751): symptomatic screening on 17 December Saga Tengah Sabah 22 23  Tenom, Keningau December  Index case (#89 355): symptomatic screening on 18 December Kolam Air Kedah 16 23  Kota Setar, Kubang Pasu December  Index case (#81 862): detainee screening on 12 December Hala Mutiara Perak 8 23  Kinta December  Index case (#82 131): detainee screening on 12 December Kebun Baru Selangor 96 24  Kuala Langat December  Targeted screening (factory) from 24 December Sungai Selangor 57 24  Burong December  Index case (#91 410): severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) screening on 19 December Tapak Bina FT Kuala 26 24  Lembah Pantai Jalan Tun Lumpur December  Targeted screening (construction site) from 24 December Jalan Pandan FT Kuala 30 24  Lembah Pantai, Cheras, Kepong, Titiwangsa, Lumpur December Selangor (Gombak, Petaling, Kuala Selangor, Hulu Langat)  Index case (#84 263): symptomatic screening on 14 December Cassia Selangor 30 25  Klang, Kuala Langat, Hulu Langat, Kuala Diamond December Selangor, Gombak, Penang (Barat Daya)  Index case (#99 203): symptomatic screening on 24 December Pompod Sabah 21 25  Kota Belud, Kudat December  Index case (#82 544): symptomatic screening on 13 December Tapak Bina FT Kuala 14 25  Kepong Kiara Lumpur December  Targeted screening (construction site) from 21 December Tapak Bina FT Kuala 12 25  Cheras Perkasa Lumpur December  Targeted screening (construction site) from 22 December Tapak Bina FT Kuala 232 26  Titiwangsa Jalan Seng Lumpur December  Targeted screening (construction site) from 25 December Pagar Siput Johor 144 26  Kota Tinggi December  Index case (#100 106): symptomatic screening on 24 December Plastik Selangor 111 26  Petaling, Klang Subang December  Targeted screening (factory) from 23 December

5 of 3

5 Malaysia Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report Weekly report for the week ending 27 December 2020

Halban Kelantan 47 26  Kota Bharu December  Index case (#98 731): close contact screening on 23 December Lis Putih Penang 24 26  Barat Daya December  Index case (#74 130): SARI screening on 7 December Sentosa Penang 18 26  Timur Laut, Barat Daya, Seberang Perai Utara, Residensi December Seberang Perai Tengah  Index case (#98 518): symptomatic screening on 23 December Seragam Kelantan 13 26  Kota Bharu, Bachok, Tumpat Chepa December  Index case (#97 386): symptomatic screening on 22 December Pagar Pahang 13 26  Bentong Bentong December  Index case (#71 314): detainee screening on 5 December Jalan Asam Selangor 14 26  Petaling, Klang December  Targeted screening (factory) from 19 December Sungai Redan Johor 12 26  Kluang, Kota Tinggi December  Index case (#98 482): SARI screening on 23 December Semambu Pahang 12 26  Kuantan December  Index case (#89 021): symptomatic screening on 17 December  Index case is a supermarket worker Jalan Sedco Sabah 14 27  Tawau, Kalabakan December  Index case (#92 107): symptomatic screening on 20 December

 As of 21 December, a total of 52 593 health-care workers have been screened, and 1880 (3.6%) COVID-19 cases have been detected. It was estimated that 33% were caused by transmission among health-care workers and another 33% through community transmission.  As of 27 December, a total of 205 896 non-Malaysians have been tested, of which 43 384 (21.1%) were positive. Among these, 98.8% (42 875 cases) were locally transmitted and 1.2% (509 cases) were imported cases. To date, 0.2% (81) deaths have been reported among non-Malaysians.  As of 3 November, a total of 1160 prisoners and 125 prison personnel and family members have tested positive for COVID-19.

Strategic approach

Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI)  To reduce prison overcrowding, authorities have built additional blocks in some prison institutions. A total of 56 247 individuals are undergoing rehabilitation in correctional rehabilitation centres outside of prisons. The Malaysian Prison Department has started implementing the Licensed Release of Prisoners (PBSL) for prisoners sentenced to less than one year. Additionally, the Prison Department has collaborated with the courts and the Malaysian Immigration Department to expedite the return of undocumented migrants to their home countries. National Service camps have also been used as admission prisons for minimum- security inmates.  Prison Department authorities have clarified that they adhere to two sets of standard operating procedures (SOPs) to minimize the spread of COVID-19 in prison settings.

6 of 3

6 Malaysia Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report Weekly report for the week ending 27 December 2020

o The Prison Department has its own standing order that requires all inmates to have COVID-19 test results before admittance. o All physical reunion sessions between inmates and their families for the Christmas celebrations will be cancelled at all prison complexes. Such visits will be replaced with virtual visits or phone calls.  Activities at houses of worship in FT Kuala Lumpur will be permitted in conjunction with Christmas celebrations. Attendance at such venues will be subject to COVID-19 guidelines released by the National Security Council (NSC).  Non-Malaysian travellers from the United Kingdom will not be allowed entry into Malaysia for the time being. Malaysian nationals travelling from the United Kingdom will be permitted entry into the country but will be subject to screening and a 10-day quarantine.  All international students, except for students from the United Kingdom, will be allowed to return to school campuses from 1 January 2021 onwards. Students will be required to undergo a COVID-19 test three days before entry into Malaysia and once upon arrival and quarantine.  Effective 1 January 2021, Sarawak state authorities permit employers to employ foreign workers. Employers will be required to bear the transportation, testing and 14-day mandatory quarantine costs.  Sabah: Tourism and cultural activities are now permitted at a maximum of 50% capacity per venue. Venues include zoos, aquariums, recreational parks, theme parks, museums, libraries, art galleries, theatres, nature parks and family entertainment centres. In-person meetings at workplaces, hotels and other venues will be permitted at maximum 50% room capacity. Such directives do not apply to areas placed under an enhanced movement control order (EMCO).

Table 3: Movement control orders currently being implemented State Location Type of MCO Effective dates Malacca Correctional Centre and staff EMCO 22 December to 4 January quarters in Jasin Pahang Ria Apartment, EMCO Extended to 6 January 2021 Amber Court Apartment, Genting Highlands Johor Muar Correctional Centre EMCO 24 December to 6 January 2021 Johor Baru Correctional Centre EMCO 26 December to 10 January 2021 and staff quarters, Batu 19 Jalan Ulu Choh-Pontian Kota Tinggi district police headquarters lock-up facility Westlite Woodlands, a workers’ EMCO 26 December to 8 January 2021 dormitory in Taman Perindustrian Tampoi Jaya, Johor Baru Negeri Sembilan Jelebu prison EMCO 26 December to 10 January 2021

Surveillance and testing  Effective 1 January 2021, all employers are required to ensure their foreign workers undergo COVID- 19 screening tests. The costs of such tests will be borne by the employer.  Penang state authorities have introduced a COVID-19 initiative to conduct pooled COVID-19 RT-PCR testing. In groups of 200 people, pools of five people will be tested at any one point. Results will be made known the following day. The charge for the test will be RM 60 per person.

Health-care capacity  As of 23 December, Malaysia has increased national COVID-19 bed capacity to 25 456 beds across hospitals and low-risk quarantine and treatment centres. As reported on 23 December, the national COVID-19 bed occupancy rate is 43%. o Of the 871 available intensive care units (ICU) beds, 159 (18%) are being utilized. 7 of 3

7 Malaysia Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report Weekly report for the week ending 27 December 2020

o Of the total 591 available COVID-19 ventilators, 79 (5%) are being utilized.  As of 27 December, Sabah has 6410 beds, including 966 beds in COVID-19 hospitals and 5444 beds in low-risk quarantine and treatment centres. Of these, 24.5% are being utilized. Risk communication and community engagement  FT Labuan authorities have indicated that the rise in COVID-19 cases in the territory is mainly due to lack of compliance with COVID-19 measures.  A survey by the MOH found that 93.3% of respondents reported that they always face masks, 89.6% maintain physical distancing and 89.7% practise handwashing or use hand sanitizer regularly. The survey was conducted between 25 and 30 November 2020 and involved 36 841 respondents.

8 of 3

8