• UPDATED 4.41PM | Added a statement from Penang's Health Department refuting infection case in the state.  

CORONAVIRUS | Reports on claims of 2019 novel coronavirus cases reported in Malacca, Terengganu, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang, which had gone viral on the social media, are not true.

In Malacca, State Health and Anti-Drug Committee chairperson Low Chee Leong said although there was initially a case of suspected coronavirus case involving a seven-year-old boy of Chinese nationality, tests conducted by the Kuala Lumpur Hospital found him negative with the virus three days ago.

“We received a report on the boy seeking treatment at a private clinic in Ayer Keroh for fever last Jan 24, and the clinic wanted to refer the case to the Malacca Hospital, but the boy’s family refused to do so and instead, took the boy to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital, where he tested negative for the virus,” Low said when contacted by Bernama.

In Terengganu, State Health director Dr Nor Azimi Yunus denied a posting on Gabungan Anak Terengganu (Original) Facebook page by one “Ali Dapicey” that five people were admitted to Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital for coronavirus upon their return from Wuhan in China.

"The Health Department denied the report. As of Jan 26, there was no suspected case of coronavirus infection at any hospital in Terengganu," Nor Azimi said in a statement today.

Also made viral was a claim of a man having been admitted to the hospital for suspected coronavirus after returning from an umrah pilgrimage in Mekah.

In Seremban, the Negeri Sembilan Health deputy director Dr Mohd Faid Rashid denied a report on a suspected coronavirus patient being admitted to the Tuanku Ja’afar Hospital yesterday, which was made viral on the WhatApps application.

"So far, no such case has been reported,” he added.

In Kuantan, Pahang Health director Dr Bahari Muda Awang Ngah said the department had not received any report on patients being admitted or treated for suspected coronavirus, including from private hospitals, in the state.

According to Bernama, he was referring to a tweet claiming that the first coronavirus case in Pahang was being treated at a private hospital in the state.

Penang Health Dept debunks rumours

Meanwhile, the director of Penang's health department Dr Asmayani Khalib issued a statement to clarify that up to yesterday, the department has yet to receive a single reported case of the virus in any hospital in Penang.

Her statement was issued in reaction to a false message being circulated on Whatsapp claiming that there was a case at the Seberang Jaya Hospital.

Asmayani called for a careful response to such false rumours and for citizens not to spread inaccurate information that could unnecessarily spread fear among the general populace.