Malaysia

Virus spreading fast in S’wak, death toll at 21

State authorities dismayed over surge in past week

Updated 5 years ago · Published on 18 Jan 2021 6:55PM

Virus spreading fast in S’wak, death toll at 21
The latest Sarawak death due to Covid-19 is a patient from the Langgi longhouse cluster, which resulted in an outbreak on January 9. – The Vibes file pic, January 18, 2021

MIRI – Sarawak today saw another new Covid-19 death, bringing the tally to 21 as the state continues to fight against the deadly pandemic.

State Disaster Management Committee chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the latest death involved a 55-year-old at Sibu Hospital.

“The patient who died at 1am today was a local man from Kanowit who was part of the Pasai cluster, which originated from a funeral ceremony held at the Langgi longhouse.

The last death confirmed to be due to Covid-19 involved a 42-year-old at Miri Hospital.

"We offer our condolences to the families of these latest fatalities," he told a press conference here today.

Embas said the number of  Covid-19 new cases today is 100.

Sibu recorded the highest number of fresh cases with 37 infections, followed by Beluru (27), Miri (7), Betong (7), Kuching (6), Bintulu (4), Selangau (4), Sri Aman (3), Lubok Antu (2), Sarikei (1), and Kanowit (1).

The state authorities are dismayed at the sudden surge over the past week or so, he said.

“The new infections and deaths shows that the pandemic is spreading very fast in Sarawak. From January 10 to today, the cases have shot up drastically.

“This is largely due to the fact that many people do not want to obey the standard operating procedures. People think they cannot be infected until it is too late for them.

“This complacency must stop if we want to break the chain of infection,” he said.

Embas said that today, the Beluru district in northern Sarawak has joined Kuching, Miri, and Sibu in becoming Covid-19 red zones. – The Vibes, January 18, 2021

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