Covid-19: New cases in Sarawak breach 1,000-mark for first time

KUCHING: Sarawak registered a record high of 1,216 new Covid-19 cases on Thursday (Aug 12), breaching the 1,000-mark for the first time since the pandemic began.

Over half the new cases were reported in Kuching with 618, followed by Serian (223) and Bau (116).

Another 22 districts recorded between one and 77 cases each, taking the state's cumulative tally to 84,603.

The state disaster management committee said 789 of the new cases were close contacts of Covid-19 patients, while 215 were from active clusters.

The majority of cases were asymptomatic, but two were listed in category three (with pneumonia), while one was in category five (multiple organ failure).

"A total of 1,019 or 83.8% of the new cases are in category one (asymptomatic) and 194 or 15.95% are in category two (mild symptoms)," the committee said in a statement.

It also said there were two fatalities, bringing the death toll to 477.

The latest deaths were a 50-year-old man who died at the Sarawak General Hospital here, and a 69-year-old woman who died at Serian Hospital.

Meanwhile, state health director Datuk Dr Mohamed Sapian Mohamed said the spike in cases was linked to social and family gatherings as well as lack of adherence to standard operating procedures (SOP) at workplaces.

"Many individuals are gathering in public places and chatting at food premises without face masks on.

"There are also some employers who are reluctant to have their workers to get screened or work from home if they show symptoms," he said in a statement.

Dr Mohamed Sapian noted that the reopening of the business sector and increased number of employees allowed in the workplace were part of the government's efforts towards economic recovery in line with the rising immunisation rate.

However, he said this did not mean the war against Covid-19 is over.

"Everyone still needs to comply with the SOP, wear face masks in public areas, and observe physical distancing and personal hygiene," he said, while urging symptomatic individuals and those exposed to Covid-19 cases to get screened immediately.