The number of COVID-19 cases especially at the immigration detention depots is expected to increase today, tomorrow and on Wednesday.

Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said although the cases were expected to increase, he advised the people not to worry as it was well contained.

“We are still waiting for the results. The tests have been done, we are now awaiting the results within the next 24 hours.

"We predict today, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, there may be an increase in the number of cases but more importantly, it has been curtailed.

"Those who are positive will be separated and taken directly to the hospital and those who are negative, we exclude them to be quarantined wherever appropriate," he said at a press conference here on Monday.

A total of 172 new cases of COVID-19 were reported today, bringing the total number of cumulative cases of the virus in the country to 7,417.

Dr Noor Hisham said this made the number of active cases with COVID-19 infectivity now at 1,323.