Covid-19: Sabah to tighten SOPs as daily cases surge, says Masidi

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has tightened some of its standard operating procedures (SOP) for social events in view of the high number of Covid-19 cases over the past week, says Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.

The minister in charge of Covid-19 matters in the state said these changes to SOPs take effect starting Friday (Feb 11).

Among them were the capacity allowed for government and private functions which was now capped at a maximum of 150 people, or 50% the space available, whichever was smaller.

"The programme cannot be held for more than two hours at one time while all attendees must wear their face masks and practice physical distancing," he said in a statement Friday.

Masidi said guests and organisers must also undergo self Covid-19 tests or get tested (with negative results) in any medical institution prior to the event.

Social events like weddings, engagements, and receptions cannot be held for more than three hours at one time, with guests not exceeding 150 people or 50% of the premises capacity, whichever was lower, he said.

Other social events such as reunions, birthdays, celebrations, retreats or religious functions cannot be held for more than two hours at any one time, with a maximum of 50 people or 50% of the function room capacity, whichever was lower,.

On quarantine periods, Masidi said those who had received their booster shots would only need to undergo five days of quarantine as compared to seven days and 10 days previously.

He said Sabah was also adopting the no-temperature taking ruling prior to entering any premises or offices.

Only those with "low risk" and "casual close contact" status in their MySejahtera application were allowed into any premises whereas the use of vaccination cards was also permitted.

Meanwhile, Sabah recorded a total of 3,361 new cases on Friday (Feb 11), with two new clusters - Kluster Loboh Nabawan (17 cumulative cases) and Kluster Pengkalan Abai in Kota Belud district (39 cases), reported.

A total of 1,785 out of the overall cases were symptomatic cases while over 99% or 3,353 are categorised under stage one and two of Covid-19.

He said Kota Kinabalu still topped the list at 782 cases followed by Sandakan with 374 cases, Tuaran at 310 cases, Tawau (263), Penampang (254), Papar (244), Lahad Datu (152), Beaufort (123), Kota Belud 122 cases and Ranau 107 cases.

For the two new clusters, he said Kluster Loboh Nabawan, a community cluster, is connected to a funeral in Kg Loboh on Feb 1.

The case index was a 59-year-old woman who started having fever, cough, flu, sore throat and headaches on Feb 6. She went for treatment and was tested positive for Covid-19 on Feb 8.

As for Kluster Kuala Abai, the case index involves an 18-year-old female hostel student of SMKA Tun Said who was tested positive on Feb 7.

All the patients in these clusters suffered light symptoms while some did not show any signs of illness.

All those involved had been isolated, quarantined and given the necessary treatment.