Nine Covid-19 clusters found at construction sites in Sabah

 KOTA KINABALU — Nine of the Covid-19 clusters found in Sabah are associated with construction sites.

Sabah Covid Spokesman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said that there have been 326 cases of Covid-19 detected to date in nine construction sites clusters in Sabah.

"These are the Alila (23 cases), Sutera (50), Avenue (110),  Highway-Pan Borneo (48) Lintas (14), Teluk (30),  Bina (25),  Plaza (14) and  Tomher (12) clusters," he said yesterday.

He said when a new cluster has been identified, automatically any activity at the cluster area would be stopped immediately for a temporary period until the situation recovers.

Whether or not there is a link between these clusters and the fact that residents of Kg Numbak work in construction sites in the state, Masidi said health authorities have found no connection between these clusters to the squatter areas in the state, adding that it could not be ascertained because the bulk of cases involves illegal immigrants.

"Our investigations have not yet found any links between the Avenue Cluster involving construction workers and the Numbak Cluster. The only factor perhaps shared between both clusters is a failure to follow the SOP set and maintain physical distancing.

The Sabah construction sector relies heavily on migrant workers and it is understood many of these migrant workers are living in the water villages in squatter areas in Sabah. — The Vibes, November 19, 2020