Yesterday, 847 new Covid-19 positive cases were recorded, of which only 5 were imported cases

by HARIZAH KAMEL / pic by BERNAMA

SIX new Covid-19 clusters were detected in Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur (KL), Negri Sembilan and Melaka yesterday.

The Tinusa cluster was recorded in Sandakan, Sabah, where a total of 586 individuals were screened, of which 33 cases were positive including three new cases, 486 negative while 67 individuals are still waiting for the results.

The Sauh cluster was found in the Kota Kinabalu and Papar districts of Sabah and Miri in Sarawak. A total of 149 individuals were screened, of which 17 cases were positive including three new cases, while 132 cases were negative.

In Selangor and KL, the Gambling and Bah Mutiara clusters have been identified.

The Gambling cluster involves the Hulu Langat district in Selangor. Close contact screenings identified 13 more positive cases. As of yesterday noon, 139 individuals were screened, of which 15 were positive, including six new cases.

The Bah Mutiara cluster in the Hulu Langat district, as well as the Titiwangsa and Lembah Pantai districts in KL, involve a returnee from Sabah.

Health DG Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said a close contact screening had identified nine more positive cases.

“Of 96 individuals screened, 10 cases detected were positive including one new case,” he said in his Covid-19 press conference yesterday.

Meanwhile, in Seremban, Negri Sembilan, from close contact screening of the Sofi cluster, 33 more positive cases were identified, while the Umboo cluster in Alor Gajah, Melaka, has four positive cases.

As of yesterday, 847 new Covid-19 positive cases were recorded, of which only five were imported cases.

The increase in new cases yesterday brought the country’s overall total to 23,804.

Sabah was still the highest contributor with 578 cases. The health DG said this was due to more aggressive screenings with more health workers mobilised from Peninsular Malaysia and also from within Sabah.

“At the same time, more reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction laboratory tests have been conducted in Sabah and sent to Peninsular Malaysia, in addition to antigen rapid-test-kit screening tests for immediate field tests,” he noted.

There were 8,183 active cases that were being treated at health facilities nationwide as of yesterday.

Additionally, 486 patients were discharged, bringing the total recovered cases in the country to 15,417, while five new fatalities were recorded yesterday, bringing the country’s Covid-19 death toll to 204.

On another note, Dr Noor Hisham said the Health Ministry will not rule out opening quarantine centres in islands of Sabah.

“For us to open a quarantine and low-risk treatment centre on the island, we must look at the risk assessment, density and population involved. If there is a need, maybe we will consider but we must look at logistics issues as well,” he said.

On the issue of Covid-19 outbreaks and positive cases detected in schools lately namely in Penang, Perak and Negri Sembilan, he said schools must continue to adhere to the standard operating procedures by the Education Ministry.

This includes avoiding gatherings and rallies, as well as practicing physical distancing.

“So far, 12 schools have been affected by cluster-related infections, which means that the infections did not start in the schools. They are usually brought to schools by those from clusters, infected or sporadic families,” he added.