KUALA LUMPUR, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia reported 105 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, the first time new cases have passed the 100 mark since April 16, as the country is relaxing its restrictions to reopen the economy.
Health Ministry Director-General Noor Hisham Abdullah said at a press briefing that 94 cases are local transmissions while 11 are imported cases, pushing the total number to 6,176.
Another 116 cases have been released from hospitals, bringing the total number of cured and discharged to 4,326 or 70 percent of all cases.
Of the 1,747 active cases, 31 are being held in intensive care and 12 of those are in need of assisted breathing. No new deaths were reported, leaving the total of deaths at 103.
The rise in new cases comes as the government announced the easing of some restrictions under the movement control order in place since March 18, which have been credited with suppressing the number of new cases.
Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said on Friday that the government was seeking to restart the economy and will allow most business sectors to reopen on May 4.
Noor Hisham urged his compatriots to try to stay at home and follow the guidelines of the Health Ministry to break the transmissions despite the easing of the restrictions. Enditem
