By Karen Bong
KUCHING, July 16: A new cluster had been declared in Kuching dubbed the ‘Mambong Cluster’ following two Covid-19 cases reported yesterday (July 15).
State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas revealed that the 131 close contacts have been identified, comprising 86 workplace colleagues, 22 family members and 23 casual contacts or others.
“A total of 86 samples have been collected, while the remaining 63 will be taken in a couple of days,” he told a press conference on Covid-19 here today.
He was referring to the foreign project engineer (Case 581) and engineer (Case 583) who worked for a local company in Kuching reported yesterday (July 15).
For the ‘Kuching Engineering Cluster’ with two positive cases reported, he updated that the samples of 187 close contacts identified were negative.
“They consisted of 130 colleagues, 33 family members and 24 related-individuals,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.
Following the death of a senior citizen from Covid-19 in Kuching recently, he pointed out that random contact tracing has been conducted in several locations visited by the late patient.
“Today, 217 early screenings were done in Stutong Community Market. From the number, two individuals showed symptoms and 56 samples have been collected.
“Tomorrow (July 17), screening will be carried out at Green Road Fresh Market, followed by major markets in two weeks’ time,” he said.
On the reports of 13 persons-under-investigation (PUI) in Miri yesterday (July 15) and three PUI recorded today, Uggah clarified that they were patients suffering from severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) and influenza like illness (ILI).
“As part of the hospital’s protocol and because they are considered high-risk, they are required to be screened to determine whether they have Covid-19 symptoms or otherwise.
“This is precautionary measures to monitor and determine that they were negative of Covid-19,” he said.
He added that there were 11 patients in Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) and seven in Bintulu Hospital with similar illness but the two districts did not classify them as PUI but patients.
“We want to clarify this to dispel fear in Miri and advised Miri to follow the definition of PUI in Kuching,” he emphasised.-DayakDaily
