By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Feb 26: Two funeral clusters of Emperoh Jambu in Kuching and Gelong in Kapit accounted for a total of 65 out of 250 new Covid-19 infections registered in Sarawak today.
The Emperoh Jambu Cluster in Kuching linked to a funeral at a village in Padawan picked up 38 cases overnight, out of which one was detected in Serian.
This thus increased the total number of positive cases in the cluster to 155.
The State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC), in a statement today, informed a total of 600 individuals have been screened as of today (Feb 26), whereby 251 were negative while 194 were still awaiting for lab test results.
As infections were spread to Kuching, Samarahan and Serian districts, Kampung Emperoh Jambu was then placed under Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) which started on Feb 23 until March 8.
The Emperoh Jambu Cluster was formed after a man tested positive following a funeral in the village from Feb 2 to 5, and spread it to villagers as well as relatives who came to attend the funeral from other villages.
After the funeral, a family of four from Kampung Petag who were related to the 82-year-old deceased had been found positive for Covid-19.
Apart from the family from Kampung Petag, another family from Kampung Rabak Simbuh who was also related to the deceased later also contracted the disease.
The Gelong Cluster in Kapit, which was also linked to a funeral, also saw an increase of 27 new cases to push the cluster tally to 151.
As of today, a total of 198 individuals have been screened whereby 47 were negative while no one was awaiting for test result.
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.
Out of the 26 active clusters in Sarawak, seven clusters recorded an increase in daily infections today namely newly formed Jalan Ho Pin in Samarahan, Jalan Muhibbah in Betong, Sungai Bakong in Meradong, Jalan Green in Kuching and the infamous Pasai in Sibu.
The notorious Pasai Cluster in Sibu added two more cases today to increase the cluster tally to 2,651. A total of 40,500 individuals have been screened whereby 37,727 were negative while 122 were still awaiting for test results.
The Jalan Ho Pin Cluster in Samarahan which was triggered by Chinese New Year visitings and involved Kuching, Serian and Samarahan districts, picked up one case today.
This thus increased the cluster tally to 15. As of today, a total of 120 individuals have been screened whereby 77 were negative while 28 were still awaiting for test results.
Jalan Muhibbah Cluster in Betong registered nine cases to increase the cluster tally to 35. A total of 230 individuals have been screened whereby 133 were negative while 62 were awaiting test results.
As for Sungai Bakong Cluster in Meradong, it registered five more cases overnight to push the cluster tally to 140. A total of 747 individuals have been screened whereby 430 were negative while 177 were still awaiting for results.
Jalan Green Cluster in Kuching recorded three cases today to push the cluster tally to 20. A total of 220 individuals have been screened whereby 188 were negative while 12 were still awaiting for results.
The remaining 19 clusters did not record any cases today. They were 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, Bukit Sekubong in Sebauh and sub-cluster Tangap in Subis.
Meanwhile, Sarawak reported two Covid-19 fatalities and 250 new cases today with Sibu topping the list of daily infections at 104 cases followed by Kuching (43), Kapit (39), Meradong (13), Bintulu (10), Betong (9), Miri (8), Samarahan (4), Sebauh and Subis (3 each), Julau, Dalat, Beluru, Selangau and Bau (2 each) as well as Asajaya, Serian, Saratok and Song (1 each).
This thus increased the state tally to 9,119 and death toll to 80. — DayakDaily
