PUTRAJAYA, Mar 17 (Sin Chew Daily) — Health minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba confirmed the country's first two COVID-19 deaths.

He said the first death involved a 34-year-old Malaysian (Case 178) who attended the tabligh event at Masjid Seri Petaling in Kuala Lumpur. He presented symptoms on March 5 and was confirmed with COVID-19 infection on March 12. He passed away at Hospital Permai Johor Bahru.

The second death involved a 60-year-old pastor from Emmanuel Baptist Church Kuching (Case 358). He had symptoms on March 7 and received treatment at Sarawak General Hospital on March 14.

Of the 120 new cases reported today, 95 are linked to the tabligh event at Masjid Seri Petaling.