Covid-19: Sarawak records 454 new cases and one new cluster

SIBU: Sarawak recorded 454 new Covid-19 cases and one new cluster on Sunday (May 9).

The state Disaster Management Committee in a statement said 273 cases or 60.13% of the cases happened in Sibu, Bintulu, Miri, Pakan and Sarikei.

Sibu district had the highest number of cases with 72 followed by Bintulu (65), Miri (59), Pakan (41), Sarikei (36), Kuching (35), Meradong (30), Selangau (24), Kanowit (16), Serian (14), Pusa (11), Kapit (10), Betong (eight), Lundu (seven), Bau (five), Tebedu (four), Subis (four), Samarahan (three) Julau, (three), Lawas (two), Saratok (two), and one each in Daro, Sri Aman and Tatau.

This brings the total number of cases to 35,160.

The new cluster detected is the Jalan Stadium Negeri cluster.

"This cluster happened as a result of a technical meeting of a sports association in Kuching on April 30 which was attended by the index case, a 65-year-old man who tested positive on April 5," it said.

The patient had contracted the virus from the community. He had infected those participating in the technical meeting. Family members of the members subsequently were also infected with the virus.

"From the 55 individuals screened, 17 of them including the index cases had tested positive while 38 others were negative from the first screening," the committee said.

The 17 have been referred to the low-risk treatment centre in Sarawak General Hospital while the 38 individuals have been quarantined.

"Some 497 patients were discharged statewide," it said.

Meanwhile, police issued compounds to 97 people for violating the SOP where 83 were fined in Kuching, followed by Miri (seven), Bintulu (five) and Padawan (one).