Covid-19: Tuaran back in the red zone after spike in cases this week

KOTA KINABALU: The Tuaran district, about 40km from here, has been placed back in the red zone after recording a spike in Covid-19 cases last week.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam said the district recorded 26 new cases during the past week (May 7 to 13), compared to 18 cases the week before (April 30 to May 7).

He said Tuaran recorded the most number of cases putting the district back in the red zone.

Dr Gunsalam said that the other districts showing a slight increase in cases last week were Sandakan, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Penyu, Papar, Penampang, Beluran, Kota Belud, Beaufort, Keningau and Kunak.

"There was no deaths due to Covid-19 in the state last week," he said in a statement on Sabah's weekly Covid-19 report.

He said that only three districts - Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu and Tawau - recorded a decrease in weekly cases while 16 other districts did not record any new cases.

Based on the weekly cases detected statewide, he said Sabah saw a 69% increase with 64 cases detected as 38 cases the previous week.

"The number of Covid-19 patients undergoing treatment increased to 166 cases from 156 cases," he added.

Dr Gunsalam urged the public to use face masks in crowded places among other preventive measures in view of the current situation.