By Ling Hui
KUCHING, April 26: The number of Covid-19 clusters involving educational institutions increased yet again today when 14 students and staff at a secondary school at Sungai Senibung, Julau tested positive for the coronavirus.
The State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) said the index case of the cluster was Case 25,451, a 15-year-old male student who was staying in the school’s dormitory.
He tested positive via symptomatic screening on April 20. Prior to that, he was already experiencing Covid-19 symptoms and was reactive in a Antigen Rapid Test Kit (RTK) on April 14.
“Prior to that, the index case was in a longhouse at Nangga Sebuntang before he moved into the dormitory on April 4 for the commencement of the schooling session.
“Targetted screenings on the school staff and other students have found an additional 13 positive cases for Covid-19,” said the committee in a statement today.
A total of 290 individuals related to the cluster have been screened so far, with 14 testing positive, 241 testing negative and 35 more awaiting laboratory test results.
SDMC gave assurance that all 14 positive cases have been admitted to the Sarikei Hospital or Quarantine and Treatment Centres for Covid-19 (PKRC) for isolation and treatment purposes.
This cluster, dubbed the Sungai Senibung Cluster, was one of three new clusters declared in Sarawak today.
The other two clusters reported were the Pondok Cluster involving a government agency in Belaga and the Jalan Sebauh-Bintulu Cluster involving infections at another secondary school and three longhouses. — DayakDaily
