By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Feb 25: Two clusters linked to funerals – Emperoh Jambu in Kuching and Gelong in Kapit, have continued to grow to 117 and 124 cases respectively after more people tested positive for Covid-19 overnight.
The Emperoh Jambu Cluster in Kuching linked to a funeral at a village in Padawan picked up 16 new cases overnight with eight from Samarahan, six from Serian and two from Kuching.
State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC), in a statement today, reported as of today, a total of 510 individuals have been screened whereby 207 were negative while 186 were still awaiting for lab test results.
Yesterday (Feb 24), Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Aidi Ismail had informed that the police will consider taking necessary actions on those who breached the standard operating procedures (SOP) that sparked the Emperoh Jambu Cluster.
He admitted that they have violated the SOP for funeral ceremonies or mass gathering as the police was not informed about the funeral ceremony.
The situation in Kapit has also worsened today with Gelong Cluster, which was also linked to a funeral, saw an increase in 19 cases, out of which 18 were detected in Kapit and one in Bukit Mabong.
As of today, 171 individuals have been screened whereby 47 were negative while no one was awaiting for lab test results.
The Gelong Cluster was formed on Feb 16 in the community of Taman Sri Gelong at Jalan Selirik after a 47-year-old local man tested positive following his father’s funeral involving only close family members on Jan 30 to Feb 2.
With a new Jalan Ho Pin Cluster declared in Samarahan today, there are now 26 active clusters in Sarawak.
Jalan Ho Pin Cluster was triggered after 14 people tested positive as a result of Chinese New Year visitings to houses of relatives and friends between Feb 11 to 14. Of the 14 cases, two were detected in Serian today.
Up until today (Feb 25), a total of 120 individuals have been screened whereby 41 were negative while 65 were still awaiting for lab test results.
Apart from the three clusters, another three clusters also recorded an increase in daily infections today namely Sungai Bakong in Meradong, Muhibbah in Betong and Jalan Green in Kuching.
Sungai Bakong Cluster registered 13 new cases today to push the cluster tally to 135 cases. A total of 747 individuals have been screened whereby 430 were negative while 182 were still awaiting for results.
As for Muhibbah Cluster in Betong, it registered three cases to increase the total number of cases in the cluster to 26. A total of 209 individuals have been screened whereby 96 were negative while 87 were still awaiting for results.
Jalan Green Cluster in Kuching recorded one case today to push the cluster tally to 17. A total of 200 individuals have been screened whereby 162 were negative while 21 were still awaiting for results.
The remaining 20 clusters did not record any cases today including the infamous Pasai Cluster and its sub-cluster Tangap in Subis. They are Kejatau and Sebangkoi in Sri Aman; Jan Yong in Kapit; Geronggang and Mas Merah in Sibu; Univista in Samarahan; Kampung Sungai Maong and Indah Riang in Kuching; Kidurong Dua and Jun Heng in Bintulu; Nanga Lijan in Julau; Seruas in Beluru; Bintang Daily in Meradong; Jalan Pengiran in Matu; Tabong in Bau; Bedayan in Serian; Rakut and Jelita in Miri and Bukit Sekubong in Sebauh.
Meanwhile, Sarawak recorded two Covid-19 fatalities and 219 new cases today with Sibu topping the list of daily infections with 80 cases followed by Kapit (26), Bintulu (25), Kuching (18), Meradong (17), Miri (12), Samarahan (11), Serian (10), Selangau (8), Sri Aman (5), Saratok (3), and one each in Kanowit, Sarikei, Bukit Mabong and Betong.
This thus pushed the State tally of positive cases to 8,869 and death toll to 78. — DayakDaily
