KOTA KINABALU – Sabah recorded a new high in its daily Covid-19 tally today by hitting over 2,000 mark for the first time, but this does not mean that the state has failed to contain the virus.
In a statement, Sabah’s Covid-19 spokesman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said while the state recorded 2,052 new cases today, the state’s infectivity rate (new Covid-19 cases per 100,000 state’s population) is still under control.
“The number of cases at 2,052 is worrying. However, we should now shift our focus to the infectivity rate-to-population ratio.
“This is a more accurate way to determine the seriousness of the virus and its infectivity rate among the people,” he said.
As such, Masidi said Sabah’s infectivity rate today is at 52 cases per 100,000 people, which places Sabah at sixth place behind Kuala Lumpur (137), Kedah (110), Selangor (96), Negri Sembilan (79), and Penang (69).
The state’s infectivity rate is the same as Melaka’s at 52, only slightly higher than Kelantan’s 50.
“We should not look only at the number of new cases as almost all states in Malaysia are also showing similar increasing trends. The nation has also recorded a new high of 21,668 cases.
“The fact is that we are facing a new wave of Covid-19, this time with variants that are more dangerous and infectious.
“Sabah’s caseload is high, but the infectivity rate is still under control,” he said.
Meanwhile, figures today showed that out of Sabah’s 2,052 fresh cases, only 30 individuals are in Categories 3, 4 and 5.
Of the total, 35% (720 individuals) and 44.5% (1,914) are in Categories 1 and 2, respectively, who are experiencing mild to no symptoms.
Masidi said 22 people are in Category 3 (pneumonia), six in Category 4 (pneumonia and need oxygen) and two people are in Category 5 (critical in intensive care), while 388 individuals are uncategorised as yet.
The high number of new cases today, he added, was contributed by two workplace infections involving an offshore oil platform (209 cases) and a construction site in Hyatt Centric near Suria Sabah here (109 cases), causing the state capital to top the chart with 635 fresh infections today.
Other districts that recorded three-figure Covid-19 cases include Penampang (221), Tawau (178), Tuaran (126) and Keningau (103).
Of the 2,052 new cases today, 44.5% (914 cases) were detected from close contacts, 21.4% (440 cases) from asymptomatic screening, 91 cases from existing clusters and 71 cases via targeted screening. – The Vibes, August 12, 2021
