MIRI – The highly contagious Delta variant of Covid-19 has been detected in Kuching, Sarawak on June 18, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) said in a statement.
The infection involves a 56-year-old man.
The university’s research team studying variants added that the Beta, Theta, and Eta variants have also been detected in the state.
“There are 56 other cases of variants of concern and variants of interests involving the Beta, Theta, and Eta strains. These cases were detected in places like Kuching, Samarahan, Bau, Lundu, Serian, and Sibu,” the statement said.
Unimas will continue to monitor these latest developments as Sarawak continues the war against Covid-19 that has caused 426 deaths and 66,000 infections so far.
Sarawak Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian had in March already warned of the real danger of variants entering the state.
The Beta variant had by last month already made its way into Sarawak.
Dr Sim, who is also an advisor to the state Disaster Management Committee, said it was likely that people entering from west Malaysia had transmitted the South African variant into Sarawak.
He said the presence of foreign variants have made it much tougher for the state authorities who are already facing enormous difficulties dealing with local transmissions from infected Sarawakians. – The Vibes, July 8, 2021
