Pastor from Sarawak is first Covid-19 fatality in Malaysia

KUCHING: The nation's first Covid-19-related death was recorded in Sarawak on Tuesday (March 17), the state disaster management committee announced.

The victim, 60-year-old Pastor David Cheng (pic), from Emmanuel Baptist Church here, passed away at 11am at Sarawak General Hospital (SGH).

"The state Health Department is still in the process of identifying the source of his infection," the committee said in a statement Tuesday.

It added that 193 close contacts of the deceased have been traced and are undergoing home quarantine.

The committee also said Sarawak reported 11 new positive cases on Tuesday, comprising six from Kuching, three from Limbang and one each from Betong and Lawas.

They are being treated at SGH, Sibu Hospital and Miri Hospital.

A further 35 persons-under-investigation (PUI) were also reported on Tuesday, while 204 patients are awaiting results.

At present, 45 Covid-19 cases in Sarawak have been traced to the Sri Petaling cluster, a church cluster in Kuching, a cluster in Sarikei and another cluster in Kuching whose source is yet to be identified.