By Karen Bong
KUCHING, April 20: Sarawak reported eight new Covid-19 cases today (April 15), bringing the total number of positive cases in the state to 371.
State Disaster Management Committee chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas disclosed that all eight cases were treated at Sarawak General Hospital (SGH).
Four main clusters have also been identified to date: Good News Fellowship (GNF) conference, Sri Petaling tabligh, Family RK (Italy cluster) and healthcare workers.
Of the cases confirmed, 117 were linked to the GNF conference, 92 from Sri Petaling tabligh, 50 from Family RK and 12 from healthcare workers.
“There are 53 cases which were part of another 13 sub-clusters involving family members, colleagues, neighbours, airline and healthcare personnel. Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of transmission amongst these cases.
“There are 46 cases still being investigated by the state Health Department to identify whether the cases are linked to certain clusters or otherwise,” Uggah told a daily press conference on Covid-19 today.
As Kuching and Samarahan have been classified as red zones and to enhance the Covid-19 screening capacity in SGH and Youth and Sports Complex here, he said that the state Health Department has added screening centres in Kota Samarahan (for public with drive-thru screening) and Petra Jaya Health Clinic (for frontliners with drive-thru screening).
“Since the Kota Samarahan screening centre was opened on March 22, 1,604 people have been screened. Out of the 1,346 samples taken, 35 cases were positive.
“While from the drive-thru screening centres, since April 13, 137 samples were taken,” he added.
Meanwhile, Sarawak also recorded 150 person-under-investigation (PUI) cases today (April 15), bringing the cumulative cases to 2,949. Of the number, 2,419 cases were negative and 159 cases are awaiting laboratory test results.
As for new PUI cases according to district, 122 cases were recorded in Kuching, followed by Miri (12), Samarahan (9), Serian (4), Bintulu (4), and one each in Bau, Simunjan and Bintulu.
Uggah also disclosed that today, there were 22 more Sarawakians returning to the state who have been placed at designated quarantine centres as PUI to undergo the compulsory 14-day quarantine in Kuching, Bintulu, Miri and Limbang.
This increases the total number of individuals undergoing quarantine to 1,096. — DayakDaily
