KUALA LUMPUR: The number of daily new Covid-19 infections took a dip, with 19,807 cases reported yesterday compared to 22,262 on Saturday.

       In a series of tweets, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said with the latest figure, the country’s cumulative Covid-19 cases now stood at 1,555,093.

       Selangor remained the state with the highest number of new cases, recording 5,379 infections.

       Sabah recorded 2,638 cases, followed by Kedah (1,948), Sarawak (1,772), Penang (1,501), Johor (1,391) and Kelantan (1,196).

       Meanwhile, 999 new cases were reported in Kuala Lumpur, followed by Perak (703), Pahang (598), Melaka (558), Terengganu (534), Negri Sembilan (508), Perlis (54), Putrajaya (24) and Labuan (four).

       In the same 24-hour period, there were 232 fatalities, bringing the death toll to 14,168.

       There were also 18,200 recoveries, which means 1,278,670 have recovered from the disease nationwide.

       There are still 1,026 patients under intensive care, with 496 requiring ventilator support.

       Meanwhile, an Orang Asli activist in Ipoh said the handling of the enhanced movement control order in Orang Asli villages in Batang Padang needed to be reviewed for further improvement.

       Orang Asli Development Cooperative founder Ramesh Arumugam Chettiar cited the challenges faced by those who were told to self-quarantine at home.

       “While most of us have the luxury of having separate rooms in our homes, the Orang Asli don’t.

       “Some of them have between 10 and 15 people living under the same roof, which poses a risk to others,” he said.

       Ramesh said those who tested positive for Covid-19 were brought to a quarantine centre in Sungkai.

       “Some who may have been in contact were told to self-quarantine at home.

       “There should have been a special quarantine centre for them to prevent Covid-19 from spreading,” he said when contacted.

       A total of 23 Orang Asli villages in Batang Padang had been placed under the enhanced MCO from Aug 11 to 24.

       Ramesh said the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) should take the lead to coordinate aid for the community.

       Jakoa, he said, knew the situation better and other relevant agencies should sit down with it to find out about the needs.

       “A collection centre could be set up in Kuala Lumpur to gather whatever people want to donate and have these sent to the Jakoa’s offices to be distributed to the Orang Asli,” he added.

       While food aid has been sent to the affected villages, there are still other items the community requires such as face masks, toothpaste and milk powder.

       Ramesh hoped NGOs, corporations, individuals and politicians would come together to help the community.