Malaysia confirms 1st case of COVID-19 with travel history to Japan

APD NEWS

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A Malaysian woman on Thursday was tested positive for COVID-19, days after returning from Japan, the Health Ministry said on Thursday.

The 53-year old woman who returned to Malaysia on Feb. 23 started showing symptoms shortly after and was being treated at a hospital in Kuala Lumpur, the ministry said in a statement.

She was tested positive on Thursday as the 23th case in Malaysia and the first one with a recent travel history to Japan.

The ministry also said two other individuals who had previously tested positive had fully recovered and had been discharged, one 67-year old female Chinese national and one 83-year-old U.S. woman, bringing the total number of recovery to 22.

It added that a total of 1,569 individuals in the country were sampled for COVID-19 with 23 confirmed positive, 1,523 tested negative and 23 still pending laboratory results.

The ministry advised Malaysians against travelling to territories or cities affected including South Korea, Japan, Italy, Iran and China.

"Based on the current situation of COVID-19 in Malaysia and the latest developments globally, MOH intends to provide advice to take care of the health of the individual, the family and the community as a whole," it said.