Malaysia reports first COVID-19 death in 2025
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia recorded its first COVID-19-related death of the year during Epidemiological Week 24 (ME24), according to the Health Ministry (MOH).
The fatality involved a patient with serious comorbidities, including heart disease and diabetes, who had not received a second booster dose.
'This marks a significant decline compared to 57 COVID-19 deaths reported in 2024, with the last fatality recorded on May 26 last year,' it said in a statement today.
The decline, it added, reflects the effectiveness of ongoing control measures. However, COVID-19 cases rose to 3,379 during ME24, up from 2,011 cases the previous week.
Despite the increase, the national situation remains under control and below the alert threshold, due to ongoing surveillance and public health interventions.
To date, a total of 21,738 cases have been reported this year, with the weekly average holding steady at around 900.
Six patients were admitted to intensive care during ME24, all with underlying health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease and Down syndrome.
All received intensive care, with four discharged home and two transferred to general wards.
MOH continues to encourage all Malaysians, from unborn babies to the elderly, to stay protected by following appropriate vaccination schedules under the National Immunisation Programme.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Borneo Post
3 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Make CPR a compulsory subject in schools, St John Ambulance S'wak chairman to federal govt
Yao delivers the speech. Also seen is the event's organizing chairman Dr Shehab Phung (seated, right). KUCHING (June 30): St John Ambulance Sarawak chairman and commander Datuk Seri Ang Lai Soon appealed to the federal government to make cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) a compulsory subject in schools. Ang said his early proposal was fully supported by the then-federal Ministry of Education, but due to the several changes in federal government leadership, it was not implemented. 'The Ministry of Education was always open to ideas to improve the country's education system,' he said in his speech during the closing ceremony of the St John Ambulance First Aid and Home Nursing Competition 2025 at St John Ambulance Sarawak headquarters here yesterday. His text-of-speech was delivered by St John Ambulance Sarawak deputy chairman Datuk Dr Yao Sik Chi. Ang however was confident the newly-elected federal government would follow up on the proposal, as CPR education was a major health concern rather than a political issue. He said implementing the initiative would require minimal cost, but could benefit thousands of Malaysians across all levels of society. 'With more people trained in CPR, ambulances would not need to hold up traffic; doctors, nurses and supporting staff are less stressed; millions and millions of dollars would be saved by the government and the private sector — it is a win-win situation,' he said. He pointed out that Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah had also given her support for CPR being made a necessary skill for youths to learn. 'She said it could be incorporated as a component under the physical and health education subject and could be made compulsory for students.' Ang hoped to garner the full support of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim; federal Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, who is also St John Ambulance Malaysia deputy president; Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg; and Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian for the CPR training proposal to be legislated in Parliament on a non-partisan basis with support from all MPs. He added that a budget for the supply of free automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to certain designated places should be tabled in the parliament. 'Once implemented, it would be a milestone in the history of health care in the country. Other countries can follow us,' he said.
Malay Mail
3 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Imported fruits getting too pricey? Here are local alternatives that outshine them in nutrition
KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 — With the revised and expanded Sales and Service Tax (SST) on imported goods set to take effect next month, Malaysians are bracing for a significant increase in the prices of imported fruits. Earlier this month, the government announced a targeted SST review that will take effect on July 1, 2025, which will include imported fruits, except apples and oranges. With the new taxes in place, consumers may find imported fruits like berries, grapes, and cherries becoming more expensive. However, Malaysia has a diverse range of local fruits that not only rival but often surpass their imported counterparts in nutritional value. As a result, budget-conscious Malaysians may turn to these local alternatives, which offer both flavour and nutrition. Local fruits that beat imports While enjoying a diverse array of fruits from around the world is certainly a delightful experience, it's equally important to recognise and appreciate the worthy options found locally. Here's a list of local fruits that can be a great alternative to their imported counterparts in terms of nutrition and minerals: Apples vs guava While apples are often branded as a healthy fruit for their fibre content and low-calorie count, guava steps up with even higher fibre and an impressive vitamin C boost, offering antioxidant benefits that surpass those of apples. For comparison, 100g of guava contains 5.4g of dietary fibre compared to an apple, which only has 2.4g. The same amount of guava also has an impressive 228mg of vitamin C, while apple only has 4.6mg. Blueberries vs mangosteen Known for their antioxidant properties, blueberries are often sought after for their antioxidant content. Mangosteen, with its potent xanthones, offers similar antioxidant benefits plus additional anti-inflammatory effects. Research suggests that xanthones offer a range of potential health benefits, including anti-cancer, and antimicrobial properties. Grapes vs langsat Grapes are a popular source of antioxidants and Vitamin K, responsible for bone health and the healing of injuries. Langsat, on the other hand, offers similar benefits, plus it contains B vitamins that are crucial for energy production. Strawberries vs rambutan Both these fruits are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants. Rambutan also offers vitamin A and other minerals such as manganese, copper, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Orange vs papaya Papaya is a great substitute for oranges when it comes to vitamin C content. For comparison, 100g of papaya provides over 60mg of vitamin C, which is about 20 per cent higher than an equivalent serving of orange. Malaysia boasts a variety of local fruits that offer superior nutrition and minerals compared to their imported counterparts. — Picture by Firdaus Latif Do imported fruits have higher nutritional value? Despite a common perception that imported fruits are more premium, largely due to their exotic appeal and higher price tags, local fruits may often be a fresher alternative to their imported counterparts. The perceived superiority of imported fruits is often linked to branding and prestige, overlooking key aspects such as freshness and nutritional value in homegrown fruits. Additionally, imported fruits, by nature of their long journey from their country of origin, must go through rigorous logistical processes to reach Malaysian shelves. These processes often include treatments like waxing and deep freezing to stretch shelf life. For instance, apples and citrus fruits are sometimes coated with a thin layer of wax to preserve moisture and maintain their appearance during the multi-week shipping transit, haulage, and sorting before they hit the shelves. Such processes and the lengthy journey can often impact their taste, texture or even nutritional value. In contrast, Malaysian fruits, being locally grown and harvested, offer greater freshness. Often picked at peak ripeness, the short supply chain from local farms to markets means that they are less likely to undergo any preservation processes, making them an even healthier option.
The Star
18 hours ago
- The Star
New ecosystem in the works to curb medical inflation, says Dr Dzul
JOHOR BARU: The joint ministerial committee involving the Finance and Healthcare Ministries will produce a new ecosystem to tackle rising healthcare costs and medical inflation, says Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad. The Health Minister said discussions are ongoing among multiple agencies and key stakeholders via the joint ministerial committee. 'The committee, co-chaired by Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan and myself, also includes representatives from private hospitals, healthcare professionals, insurance and Takaful providers and advocacy groups. 'A meeting had been conducted recently and we have formed several working groups to handle the related issues,' he said after witnessing the handing over of Hospital Pasir Gudang by the Works Ministry to the Health Ministry on Sunday (June 29). In a joint ministerial statement released on Tuesday (June 24), it said the committee is made up of representatives from Bank Negara Malaysia, supported by a consultative council comprising key stakeholders in the private healthcare sector. The council will provide a dedicated platform for industry players to work together and contribute their expertise towards the government's shared goal of ensuring affordable and accessible private healthcare for all Malaysians, the statement read. Meanwhile, earlier in Dr Dzulkefly's speech at the event, he said the government is continuously finding ways to address the shortage of healthcare workers, in particular nurses. 'This is a global issue - even the Philippines, which used to export nurses, is also facing a shortage in their country. 'Various steps have been taken, including increasing the number of nurse trainees to 1,000, but it still has not been able to fill up the positions. 'This has been a chronic issue with no quick fix. Give the ministry some time to address this,' he added.
