PETALING JAYA: The Health Ministry detected 39 new Covid-19 cases in the country, bringing the overall positive cases in the country to 197 cases.

Health Director-General Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said he noted that all the cases reported were detected and the patients were isolated for further treatment.

"With the additional 39 cases, the total number of cases is 197 cases. From the latest figure, 38 cases were detected from the Patient-Under-Investigation (PUI) infection, while the other case is from close contact," he said in a statement.

It is believed that this is the highest number of cases recorded in a day.

Dr Noor Hisham noted that up to date, four positive cases require breathing assistance and are being treated in the Intensive Care Unit.

In a separate infographic posted on Dr Noor Hisham's Twitter account, it is noted that some new cases are individuals from Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Penang, Perak, Labuan, Kedah, and Perlis.

He also said that the ministry is carrying out Covid-19 surveillance to identify whether a case is isolated or sporadic in the country through patients with influenza-like-illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) who have not travelled to countries affected by the coronavirus, or have been in contact with a Covid-19 case in Malaysia.

"As of March 13, some 756 samples were tested, and three were positive for Covid-19," he said.

The ministry had advised those who have attended the gathering to come forward to be screened.

Dr Noor Hisham also advised the public to maintain proper hygiene, avoid crowded places as well as keep themselves abreast with the latest updates on the virus.