By Adrian Lim
KUCHING, April 14: Sarawak reported five deaths due to Covid-19 — the highest number of fatalities since the pandemic first began in the state.
According to reports from the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) today, the victims, which include three men and two women aged between 55 and 78 that had comorbidities, passed away at Sarawak General Hospital, Sibu Hospital, Bintulu Hospital and Sarikei Hospital.
With five more casualties reported, the death toll due to Covid-19 in Sarawak has increased to 133 persons.
At the same time, SDMC said Sarawak registered 489 new cases of Covid-19.
The cases were derived from Kuching (99), Sri Aman (76), Sibu (75), Miri (50), Bintulu (48), Beluru (32), Samarahan (25), Sarikei (17), Kapit (9), Mukah (9), Belaga (8), Meradong (8), Serian (7), Saratok (6), Subis (5), Marudi (5), Bau (3), Julau (2), Matu (2), Lubok Antu (1), Pakan (1) and Kabong (1).
The committee explained that the reasons for the high number of Covid-19 cases reported were due to positive cases identified from the Tembok Cluster in Sri Aman and the Jalan Puncak Borneo Cluster.
It disclosed that a total of 47 positive cases in Kuching involved the Jalan Puncak Borneo Cluster.
Yesterday, SDMC said the Jalan Puncak Borneo Cluster was formed following police trainees at a training centre in Jalan Puncak Borneo that tested positive for Covid-19.
In the meantime, SDMC added a total of 76 cases in Sri Aman were identified from the second Covid-19 swab test following samples taken at a prison there, dubbed the Tembok Cluster.
It noted there were 51 positive cases identified from the existing Covid-19 clusters which are active in Sarawak.
Meanwhile ,the additional 489 cases reported has brought the cumulative number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Sarawak to 21,448.
On another note, there were 240 Covid-19 patients who recovered and were discharged from health facilities.
A total of 4,373 Covid-19 patients are being treated at various health facilities and low-risk quarantine centres throughout the state.
Apart from that, there were 513 new cases of Person-Under-Investigation (PUI) reported and 14 PUI cases are awaiting the results of their Covid-19 swab test. — DayakDaily
