Keranji Tabuan Cluster emerges in Kuching after 5 new Covid-19 cases

The statistic of the Covid-19 situation in Sarawak as of Jan 7, 2021

By Karen Bong

KUCHING, Jan 7: Keranji Tabuan Cluster has emerged today after five new local Covid-19 cases linked to index Case 1,158 have been detected in Kuching, out of 14 cases reported in Sarawak.

The rest of the nine cases were recorded in Kuching (2), Sibu (3), Sri Aman (2), Miri (1) and Pusa (1). This thus increased the state tally of positive cases to 1,180.


With two cased in Sri Aman, the district has reverted to yellow zone.

State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas revealed that Case 1,168, 1,169, 1,170, 1,178 and 1,179, aged between 24 to 56 years old, were the close contact and family members to Case 1,158.

“They were detected through active contact tracing on Jan 5 which results returned positive on Jan 6 and 7,” he told a press conference on Covid-19 update today.

Contact tracing and further investigation are being carried out by Kuching Division State Office.

Another local case (Case 1,174) involved a local man who went to seek treatment at a private hospital on Jan 3. He was referred and admitted to Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) for a second test which returned positive.

Kuching also reported one imported case involving a man who returned from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Jan 3 via Dubai and arrived in Kuching on Jan 4.

He transited through Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA1) on Jan 4 and had undergone RTK Antigen test which his result was negative.

Upon arrival at Kuching International Airport (KIA), the case had served quarantine at a centre for 10 days and underwent a test on Jan 5 and his result was positive the next day.

All Kuching cases are now isolated and treated in SGH.

Sibu reported three imported cases with Case 1,171 involved a local woman who worked in Singapore and returned via Johor on Jan 4.

In Johor, she had undergone quarantine at a centre from Dec 10 to 19 and tested on Dec 11 which result was negative.

Upon arrival in Sibu, she was tested and ordered to serve home quarantine at home for 14 days with a wristband given. The first test result however returned positive on Jan 6.

Case 1,172 involved a local who returned from Selangor after a holiday since Dec 19. Upon arrival at Sibu Airport on Jan 4, he served home quarantine with a wristband given and underwent a test which was found positive on Jan 6.

Case 1,175 involved a local woman who returned from Kuala Lumpur on Dec 29 and transited through KIA where she was tested but the result was negative.

Upon arrival at Sibu Airport, the case served a 14-days home quarantine with wristband given and the test returned positive on Jan 6.

All cases are currently isolated and treated in Sibu Hospital.

In Pusa district, Case 1,173 was a local woman who returned from Johor on Jan 4 and had undergone home quarantine with a wristband given. The test carried out on Jan 4 returned positive on Jan 6.

The case had started to show symptoms on Jan 2. Contact tracing for the case is still ongoing. She is currently isolated and treated in Sibu Hospital.

For the local case in Miri, Case 1,176 involved a local man who is a friend to Case 1,116 and detected through contact tracing linked to Bah Sayap Cluster.

The case was tested at a government health clinic on Jan 5 and was found to be positive on Jan 6. He was asymptomatic and currently isolated and treated in Miri Hospital.

In Sri Aman, two local cases (Case 1,177 and 1,180) were detected following a visit to seek treatment at the Sri Aman clinic after experiencing cough and fever.

They were sent to SGH for further treatment. Contact tracing is currently actively carried out by the Sri Aman Division Health Office.

With a new cluster identified, Uggah informed that there are now four active clusters in Sarawak.

“The Tabuan Keranji Cluster has a total of six cases and 54 individuals have been screened with six negative and 42 still awaiting for results.

“One new case was recorded in Bah Sayap Cluster in Miri which has a total of six cases with 71 individuals screened where 42 are negative and 23 awaiting results,” he said.

No new cases were recorded in the Stutong Cluster in Kuching, thus maintaining total cases at 11. A total of 206 individuals have been screened with 162 negative while 33 still awaiting results.

The Mador Cluster in Meradong did not record any new cases to maintain the total cases at eight. A total of 1,238 individuals have been screened with 1,173 negative while 57 still awaiting results.

Uggah added that there were only two recoveries recorded in Sarawak today and patients have been discharged from SGH and Miri Hospital respectively.

“Thus, the total number of recovered cases in Sarawak has increased to 1,085 or 91.95 per cent of total positive cases so far,” he said.

With additional 14 cases today, a total of 76 patients are still receiving treatment in hospitals with 36 in SGH, 18 in Miri Hospital, 16 in Sibu Hospital, five in Bintulu Hospital and one in Sungai Buloh Hospital.

Kuching, Miri, Sibu, Bintulu, Meradong, Bukit Mabong and Lawas remained as yellow zones with total 35 local cases reported in the past 14 days.

There were 43 more persons-under-investigation (PUI) reported with 16 cases pending laboratory test results.

SDMC updated that 363 more persons-under-surveillance (PUS) have registered into identified hotels to undergo quarantine.

As of today, there were a total number of 4,121 individuals undergoing quarantine in 44 hotels and quarantine facilities throughout the state. — DayakDaily

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