On Monday (2 March), the Health Director-General (DG) of Malaysia Datuk Dr Noor Hisham informed that a former Malaysian Minister and Deputy Minister were tested negative for Covid-19. They were said to be in close contact with a senior member of Khazanah National Berhad and UDA Holdings Berhad, who is now labelled as case 26 in the country.
The DG added, “Five close contacts, who are family members, a special assistant to case 26 and a private healthcare official have been tested negative for COVID-19”.
He added, “The investigation and contact tracing process are still continuing”.
Patient number 26 is said to be undergoing treatment and being monitored at Sungai Buloh hospital. He is reported to be in stable condition.
As of Monday, the cumulative number of Covid-19 cases in the country remains at 29.
“From the 29 confirmed cases, 22 cases have recovered and been discharged. A further seven cases are still receiving treatment in isolation wards at a few hospitals in the Klang Valley,” he said. They were all reported to be in stable condition.
Health authorities have now detected seven more confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, which brings the total number of cases in the country to 36.
Sources report that the former Minister and the Deputy Minister were prominent in the country’s political turmoil last week and had been present at several locations with political leaders, lawmakers and media workers.
Edit: The story has been updated to note that Patient 26 is a senior member of Khazanah National Berhad and UDA Holdings Berhad.