A total of 142 new positive COVID-19 cases were recorded in the country as at noon today, bringing the total to 2,908.

Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said two more deaths due to the disease were recorded today, which brings the total number of fatalities to 45 or 1.55 per cent of the total cases.

He said 102 COVID-19 positive cases were being treated at the Intensive Care Unit, with 66 cases requiring ventilators to aid with breathing.

Dr Noor Hisham said the 44th death (case 193) was of an 80-year-old Malaysian woman who had a history of diabetes, hypertension and heart disease.

“She was a close contact of a COVID-19 positive case (case 115). She was treated at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital on March 13 and was pronounced dead on March 31 (yesterday) at 4.30 am,” he said at the daily press conference on COVID-19 developments here today.

Dr Noor Hisham said the 45th person (case 1053) who died was a 62-year-old Malaysian man with a history of diabetes and hypertension.

“He had been in close contact with a COVID-19 positive case (case 486) and was warded at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital on March 17. He died on March 31 at 10.46 pm,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Noor Hisham said currently, 2,359 health volunteers in various fields have stepped forward to provide help in efforts to combat COVID-19 pandemic.

They comprised 65 specialist doctors in various fields, 159 medical officers; 909 nurses; 220 medical laboratory technologists; 704 medical assistants; 106 radiographers; 56 physiotherapists; 70 science officers (microbiology); seven pharmacists; 44 pharmacy assistants, 11 occupational safety and health officers; two psychologists and six counsellors.

The Health Ministry hoped that more volunteers would come forward and those who wish to join the COVID-19 health and medical assistance team can fill up the volunteer registration form available on the ministry’s Facebook page, he added.

-- BERNAMA