MIRI – Covid-19’s Delta variant is spreading in Sarawak, and has now reached Miri – the second-largest urban centre in the state.
Another 76 cases involving the variant were announced today, and were found in Kuching (52), Serian (11), Sri Aman (5), Samarahan (3), Miri (1), Sibu (1) and Betong (1) as of July 13.
Dr David Pereira, who is Universiti Malaysia Sarawak’s (Unimas) Health and Community Medicine Institute director, said genomics studies have found that the variant is spreading from Kuching to other districts.
Last month, Unimas found 17 Delta infections in Kuching.
Dr Pereira said Covid-19 cases involving the deadly variant have been detected in multiple areas, especially in Kuching.
“They were found in Sentosa Hospital, the lock-up at Satok police station, and other places,” he said in a statement today.
Sarawak Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian warned the public to not take the Covid-19 situation in the state lightly, as the Delta variant is proving to be a real threat.
Sarawak is also seeing infections involving the Alpha, Beta, Eta and Theta variants, with 58 such cases detected statewide, so far, by Unimas.
Dr Sim said the university has been tasked to carry out a genomics study on the Covid-19 trend in Sarawak, and the variants that are currently emerging.
The Delta variant, which was first detected in India, is now the most deadly and transmissible mutated strain of the original Covid-19 strain from Wuhan, China. – The Vibes, July 21, 2021
