By Adrian Lim
KUCHING, May 5: A 28-year-old construction site surveyor involved in the construction of the Pan Borneo Highway in Jakar, Sarikei has tested positive for Covid-19 and is the index case of the new Covid-19 cluster known as the Jalan Sawit Cluster in Sarikei.
According to reports from the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC), the Jalan Sawit Cluster is a workplace cluster related to a workers’ dormitory of a construction company at Jalan Sawit, Jakar in Sarikei.
SDMC said the index case of the cluster was case 29,207, a 28 year-old which was identified through symptomatic screening at a private clinic in Sarikei on April 26.
The committee said the case was reactive to a rapid test kit (RTK) antigen test and subsequently referred to Sarikei Hospital whereby he tested positive for Covid-19 on April 28 through the rapid test polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR) test.
Following investigation, it was believed that the index case was infected with the virus from the community and had spread it to family members and co-workers and colleagues.
Active case detection and contact tracing were subsequently carried out and a further 17 cases were identified.
At present, a total of 92 individuals linked to the index case has been swabbed for Covid-19.
Out of that, 18 individuals have tested positive including the index case, five individuals have tested negative and 69 individuals are awaiting the results of their Covid-19 swab test.
SDMC said all the positive cases have been admitted to Sarikei Hospital and Sarikei low risk quarantine and treatment centre for isolation and treatment.
In the meantime, SDMC said there were also two new clusters of Covid-19 detected today.
They are the Jalan Sawit Cluster in Sarikei and the Tanjong Kibong Cluster in Sibu.
With two additional clusters of Covid-19 detected in Sarawak, there are presently a total of 76 active clusters of Covid-19 in the state.
Out of the 76 active clusters, 19 clusters reported 93 new cases of coronavirus while the balance of 57 clusters did not report new cases.
On another note, SDMC said there were four clusters of Covid-19 which have ended after zero cases were reported in the past 28 days.
They are the Jalan Muhibah Cluster in Betong, Jalan Kampung Hilir Cluster in Sibu, Batu Gong Cluster in Serian and the Taman Vistagro Cluster in Sri Aman. — DayakDaily
