By Adrian Lim
KUCHING, Jan 5: Sarawak reported 13 new Covid-19 cases today, increasing from the eight cases yesterday.
State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas revealed that five cases were detected in Kuching, five cases in Miri, two cases in Bintulu and one case in Pusa, Betong.
With these new cases, the cumulative number of Covid-19 cases in Sarawak has increased to 1,161.
Uggah also disclosed that there was a new cluster which has been identified as the Bah Sayap Cluster in Miri.
“Case 1,161 involved a child who returned from Johor to Pusa (Betong) with six family members from Johor through Senai International Airport to Sibu Airport on December 26.
“Upon arrival at Sibu Airport on December 26, 2020 after undergoing a Covid-19 swab test together with family members, the case was given home surveillance order (HSO) for 14 days and had a wristband attached.
“The case was transported with family members from Sibu Airport to Pusa using a private vehicle.
“The result of the first swab test was negative while the result of the second swab test on January 2 was positive.
“The case was asymptomatic and was admitted to Sibu Hospital for further treatment,” Uggah said during a press conference here today.
Ten of the 13 new cases reported were imported.
Meanwhile, a new cluster has been identified in Miri and named the Bah Sayap Cluster.
Uggah who is also the Deputy Chief Minister added the cluster involved Miri and Kota Kinabalu in Sabah.
The index case is Case 1,115 which was identified on December 31 last year through the screening of symptomatic individuals at a private healthcare facility in Miri.
Uggah disclosed that a total of five positive cases linked to the cluster have been confirmed including the index case.
In relation to the Bah Sayap Cluster, a total of 48 individuals have been screened for Covid-19, with five testing positive, 41 testing negative and two individuals awaiting laboratory test results.
With this, Uggah added, there are currently three active Covid-19 clusters in Sarawak, comprising the Bah Sayap Cluster in Miri, Stutong Cluster in Kuching and Mador Cluster in Meradong.
Meanwhile, eight patients have recovered and were allowed to be discharged from hospitals.
A total of 61 patients who are still being treated at public health facilities throughout Sarawak.
Uggah added there were 22 new Person-Under-Investigation (PUI) cases while one PUI case was awaiting laboratory test results.
A total of 26 local transmission cases has been reported in the past fortnight. — DayakDaily
