Covid-19: Sabah‘s daily cases hit all-time high of 1,379 on Sunday (Aug 8)

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s daily Covid-19 case numbers continue to increase, registering a new high of 1,379 on Sunday (Aug 8).

State Local Government and Housing Minister and Covid-19 spokesman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said Kota Kinabalu reported 351 new cases, 110 more than the 241 recorded on Saturday (Aug 7).

Also seeing an increase in daily cases were Tawau (160 cases), Tuaran (152) and Penampang (113).

“There are no new clusters today, but field data showed a high increase of new cases for two existing clusters: Gambaron 2 in Telupid (68 cases) and Pauh in Kinabatangan (60),” he said on Sunday.

Masidi said that except for cases involving clusters, the increase of daily cases in urban areas is due to infections spreading quickly at workplaces and through social interaction.

He said 17 of the new cases involved detainees in prisons or Immigration detention centres.

On the reason for the increases despite the vaccination drive being intensified of late, Masidi said today's cases involved those infected about two weeks ago since the incubation period of the virus is between 10 and 14 days.

ASked when a turnaround can be expected, he said: “It takes a bit longer but the number will plateau as more people are vaccinated.”

On Friday (Aug 6) Sabah inked an agreement which will see the procurement of 250,000 doses of Sinovac vaccine through its wholly-owned investment arm Qhazanah Sabah Group.

The state has targeted to vaccinate 60% of the population by October in order to reach herd immunity by year-end.