March 20, 2022

Malaysia Reports 22,341 New COVID-19 Infections, 85 New Deaths

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia reported 22,341 new COVID-19 infections as of midnight, bringing the national total to 3,974,019, according to the health ministry.

There are 524 new imported cases, with 21,817 being local transmissions, data released on the ministry’s website showed.

A further 85 deaths have been reported, bringing the death toll to 34,329.

The ministry reported 33,347 new recoveries, bringing the total number of cured and discharged to 3,656,415.

There are 283,275 active cases, 390 are being held in intensive care units and 219 of those are in need of assisted breathing.

The country reported 34,970 vaccine doses administered yesterday, and 84 percent of the population have received at least one dose, 79 percent are fully vaccinated and 47.4 percent have received boosters.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

March 20, 2022

34.9 pct of children in Malaysia given COVID-19 vaccine

KUALA LUMPUR— A total of 1,239,194 children aged five to 11 or 34.9 per cent of the population in Malaysia have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine under the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme for Children (PICKids) as of Saturday.

As for adolescents aged 12 to 17, according to the COVIDNOW website, a total of 2,842,480 individuals or 91.4 per cent of the population have been fully vaccinated while 2,941,159 or 94.6 per cent received at least one dose of the vaccine.

For adult population, a total of 15,446,895 individuals or 65.7 per cent of the group have received the COVID-19 booster dose and a total of 22,941,756 individuals or 97.5 per cent of the group have been fully vaccinated while 23,217,449 or 98.7 per cent received at least one dose of the vaccine.

On Saturday, a total of 40,418 doses were administered with 18,273 as first doses, 1,709 as second doses and 20,436 as booster doses, bringing the cumulative total vaccine doses dispensed under the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK) to 68,418,688.

Meanwhile, according to the Health Ministry’s GitHub portal, a total of 85 deaths due to COVID-19 were recorded Saturday.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

March 20, 2022

Two migrants dead in Indonesia boat accident

JAKARTA— A wooden boat carrying 90 illegal immigrants heading for Malaysia capsized off the coast of North Sumatra, Indonesia after it sprung a leak in the early hours on Saturday.

Two of the victims had died and the remaining including the boat skipper and crew were rescued by fishermen and the country’s National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS).

The rescue operation was completed Sunday at around 11am Western Indonesian time.

The shipwreck took place at about 31 kilometers east of Panton Bagan Port in Asahan district, commander of BASARNAS Asahan Tanjung, Ady Pandawa said.

He was quoted by local media as saying that an overloaded boat believed to be carrying people from Sumtara, East Java, Madura and East Nusa Tenggara.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

March 20, 2022

Malaysia’s Le Tour de Langkawi to return in June this year

IPOH (Malaysia)— Malaysia’s premier cycling tour race – Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) – is set to return in June this year after being cancelled last year due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Youth and Sports Minister Ahmad Faizal Azumu said so far, five teams had registered, and more than 20, including 18 from abroad, had said they were ready to participate in the race.

“We have set the rule that all participants must be vaccinated or face problems to enter our country. In fact, they (international participants) may even face a problem of flying out of their country,” he said at a press conference after officiating the LTdL 2022 Route Introduction ceremony here Sunday.

According to Ahmad Faizal, the 26th edition of the UCI ProSeries status competition was scheduled to be held from June 11 to 18, with the route spanning 1,183 kilometres (km) involving eight stages around areas in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Selangor, Perak, Penang, Kedah and Langkawi.

He said although the pandemic had not fully subsided, the ministry, event organiser Human Voyage and the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) had decided to go ahead with the 2022 competition to continue the tradition and continuity of LTdL as the country’s most prestigious cycling tour.

Asked about the standard operating procedures (SOP) during the race, Ahmad Faizal said it was possible that the ministry would provide some flexibility as the country transitioned towards the endemic phase, and all parties were urged to observe the set SOP.

“I think during the flagging off and end of the race, the organisers have to follow the SOP set by the National Security Council and the Ministry of Health, including for members of the public and fans along the side of the road,” he said.

The LTdL is a Pro Series race, which is one notch below the highest category, namely the UCl World Tour Series, which includes the Tour de France, Giro d’ltalia, Vuelta Espana, and Classic competitions.

Unlike the 2020 edition which started in Kuching, Sarawak, LTdL 2022 returns to the Peninsula and will be concentrated along the West Coast starting in Kuala Lumpur.

The tough climbing route from Kuah town to Gunung Raya in Langkawi will be another one to watch out for the race before it finishes with the loop route in Langkawi.

Since its inception in 1996 as a category 2.6 race, LTdL has been the venue of choice for teams and professional riders including cycling greats from Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Britain and other European countries.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK