KOTA KINABALU – Sabah recorded a massive jump in new Covid-19 cases, attributed to the surge in infections from Sandakan, on the first day of Chinese New Year.
490 new cases were reported today in total. Sandakan alone made up 141 of the said new cases.
A source told The Vibes of a possible new cluster in Sejati Walk at Mile 7.
“But it has yet to be included in the Sabah Health Department’s data,” said the source, who requested anonymity.
The Vibes understands that visitors – including children – had visited a Chinese New Year bazaar held at the open-space mall around three days ago, which saw a lion dance performance and the distribution of ang pow or money packets during the event.
A total of 141 cases were detected from the east coast district today, up by 67 cases from 74 cases yesterday.
On January 30, Sandakan only reported 45 cases.
Covid-19 cases had been hovering over the 300 cases per day in Sabah for weeks until today.
Health authorities have not declared a cluster in Sandakan despite the massive number of infections reported from the district tonight.
Instead, the only cluster reported in the Local Government and Housing Ministry daily briefing was from Tawau.
Sabah Covid-19 spokesperson Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said the new cluster involved hostel students staying at the Mara Junior Science College.
“The index cases involved an 18-year-old female student who was detected on January 26.
“A screening of her close contacts, her dorm mates and friends found 11 new infections, taking the total number of cases to 12,” he said in a statement tonight.
On the spike in cases in Sandakan, sources from the state health authorities told The Vibes that they are still trying to determine the cause behind the rise in cases in the district. – The Vibes, February 1, 2022
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