KOTA KINABALU – Sabah again tops the list of new Covid-19 cases in Malaysia at 644 infections, said the Health Ministry.
The worst-hit district is Sandakan at 199 cases, followed by Tawau (134) and Kota Kinabalu (91). Authorities said new cases in Sandakan were to due a testing backlog between October 23 and 26.
The Health Ministry said 97 new cases came from existing clusters in Sabah, while close contact screening found 401 cases, and other screenings detected 146 cases.
Four areas – Tawau, Lahad Datu, Kunak and Semporna – are under enhanced movement control order (EMCO), while the rest of the state is under conditional movement control order (CMCO). They will be observing the respective MCO restrictions until November 9.
“The EMCO will involve 1,820 detainees and 114 staff members. All activities in and out of the detention centre as well as visits by family members are not allowed, said Sabah Covid-19 spokesman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.
He said to curb the spread of Covid-19 in temporary detentions centres, the Sabah Health Department has instituted infection controls at thoe ones in Tawau, Papar and Kota Kinabalu.
“For the Kota Kinabalu temporary detention centre, targeted screening involving some detainees and members security on duty has been made and they are quarantined in the compound.”
Masidi said the cumulative number of Covid-19 cases in the state is at 15,692.
“Today, a total of 658 Covid-19 patients have been discharged, while a total of 3,061 patients are receiving treatment – 641 in hospital and 2,420 at low-risk treatment centres, while 71 are in intensive care and 20 on ventilator aid.
“Beaufort district is now a red zone although no new clusters were reported.”
He said another 384 beds are added for Covid-19 use, with a total of 8,296 beds and today’s bed usage today is at 36.9%.
He added today onwards, three medical specialists will be placed at the Duchess Of Kent Hospital in Sandakan, 12 medical officers will be stationed at Tawau Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital Kota Kinabalu, and nine nurses will be in Tawau.
Until today, Sabah has received a total of 43 medical specialists, 150 medical officers and 255 permanent and contracted nurses.
On the distribution of food baskets, Masidi said it is going smoothly with a total of 117,685 food baskets distributed to date.
He said total of 64 road blocks were implemented, involving inspections of 31,237 vehicles. Meanwhile, 286 vehicles were ordered to turn back with 47 compounds issued SOP violators.
The police said the rate of CMCO compliance is at 96.5%.
Masidi said authorities carried out 39 coastal inspections in the east coast and 24 inspections off the waters of Kota Kinabalu and Labuan.
He added the Sabah Fire and Rescue Department has implemented sanitisation in eight premises in Semporna, Tawau and Tuaran. – The Vibes, November 1, 2020
