by BERNAMA / pic credit: KKM FACEBOOK

Two more new clusters were identified today, namely the Batu Cluster in Taiping, Perak and the Ramai-Ramai Cluster in Sandakan, Sabah, said Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

This brings the total number of active clusters in Malaysia to 39.

Dr Noor Hisham said the Batu Cluster had been identified as a result of screening among staff and family members of a detention centre.

“Seven cases were tested positive COVID-19 on Oct 5 and they were all admitted to the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital, Perak.

“As of Oct 6 at noon, a total of 860 individuals have been screened while the cause of the infection is still under investigation,” he said.

For Ramai-Ramai Cluster, the index case (case 12,161) is a bus driver who had symptoms of sore throat and fever since Sept 27.

“The case was detected positive on Oct 3 and was admitted to the Duchess of Kent Hospital in Sandakan for treatment.

“Following that, close contact screenings have been conducted and 19 more positive COVID-19 cases have been identified, involving locals. They have also been admitted to the Duchess of Kent Hospital,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said there were seven other active clusters that recorded an increase in COVID-19 positive cases today including the Tembok Cluster with 394 new cases; Bangau-Bangau Cluster (30 cases), Jalan Meru Cluster (15 cases), Bah Sintok Cluster (three cases); Benteng PK Cluster (two cases); while Selasih Cluster and Embun Cluster each recorded one new case.

Dr Noor Hisham explained that out of the 688 local transmission cases, 394 cases involved Tembok Cluster namely prison in Kedah thus covering 57 per cent of the total number of cases today.