KUCHING, Nov 25: Sarawakian offshore workers recently returned from Romania were the two new imported Covid-19 cases reported in Sibu today, bringing the state’s tally to 1,058.
The State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) in a statement today, disclosed that the Covid-19 status for Kuching District has been revised to yellow with 37 local transmission cases reported in the last 14 days, while Miri and Limbang remain as yellow zones.
As for the new imported cases, SDMC reported that Case 1,057 and 1,058 returned to the country via Qatar on Nov 9.
Upon arrival in Kuala Lumpur, they were placed in a quarantine centre for 14 days until Nov 22. Their first rT-PCR tests on Nov 10 were negative and the second RTK antibody tests on Nov 22 showed non-reactive results.
They proceeded to fly back to Sarawak through Miri Airport and arrived in Sibu Airport on Nov 23. They were quarantined again and repeated Covid-19 tests the same day, in which test results returned positive.
Both cases were asymptomatic and they are now isolated and being treated in Sibu Hospital.
SDMC revealed that the cases were among Malaysian oil and gas offshore workers who were stranded in Romania and have not been paid their salary.
Earlier this month, it was reported that nearly 100 Malaysian oil and gas workers were stranded in Romania and forced to work without pay. Of the total, 83 of them were Sarawakians.
They returned safely back to Malaysia following efforts by federal and state governments to reach out to the Romanian government to facilitate their travel home.
Meanwhile, there were 16 cases who have recovered and were discharged with 14 from Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) and two from Miri Hospital.
Thus, the total number of recovered cases in Sarawak has increased to 1,008 or 95.27 per cent of total positive cases so far.
A total of 31 patients are receiving treatment in hospitals in the state currently with 27 in SGH and two each in Miri Hospital and Sibu Hospital.
Six active clusters remain in Kuching, namely Besi Cluster (12 cases), Jalan Abell Cluster (15 cases), Baki Cluster (33 cases), Seladah Cluster (9 cases), Greenhill Cluster (91 cases) and Wisma Saberkas Cluster (44 cases).
Sarawak also recorded 27 more Persons-Under-Investigation (PUI) with four cases pending laboratory test results.
There were also 206 more Persons-Under-Surveillance (PUS) registered into identified hotels to undergo quarantine.
As of today, there were a total number of 3,476 individuals undergoing quarantine in 34 hotels and quarantine facilities throughout the state. — DayakDaily
