Malaysia reported 110 new Covid-19 cases on Thursday, March 19, 63 of which are linked to the tabligh (religious) gathering at a mosque in Sri Petaling, Kuala Lumpur.

This brings the total in the country to 900 cases, health minister Adham Baba said.

The religious event was attended by 16,000 people.

It subsequently led to infections in Singapore, Brunei and Indonesia.

By March 19, 12am, Malaysian authorities had contacted 10,553 people of worshippers who attended the gathering, health director-general Noor Hisham Abdullah confirmed.

Of the 4,986 samples taken from these group, 513 of them tested positive for Covid-19.

A total of 16,000 or more worshippers were at the event.

One of those infected was a 34-year-old man who died in Johor’s Sultanah Aminah Hospital on Tuesday after his condition deteriorated.

That day, Malaysia reported two deaths from Covid-19, the country’s first fatalities linked to the virus.

Religious event worshippers urged to come forward

The rest of the worshippers from the event have been urged to come forward to the health ministry so that they will be checked.

Malaysia currently has a total of 20 patients who tested positive for Covid-19 warded at the intensive care unit and require breathing assistance.

A total of 75 patients have recovered from the virus in Malaysia.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced in a separate national address on Wednesday night that Malaysia may extend the restricted movement order by "maybe another two weeks or even longer" if the current measures fail to contain the spread of Covid-19.

He also urged Malaysians to stay at home for two weeks to break the chain of infection.

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