Malaysia

Sabah braces for more Covid-19 cases as 2 clusters expand

KK, Pitas infections spreading outside initial areas of detection due to people’s movement

Updated 5 years ago · Published on 09 Jul 2021 3:09PM

Sabah braces for more Covid-19 cases as 2 clusters expand
Sabah yesterday logged 279 new Covid-19 cases, and expects today’s number to be higher. – The Vibes file pic, July 9, 2021

by Rebecca Chong

KOTA KINABALU – Sabah’s Covid-19 cases are expected to be higher today compared with yesterday due to the high infection rate of two existing clusters.  

Sabah Covid-19 spokesman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun tweeted today that the extent of infection in the two clusters – Agora Borneo (Kota Kinabalu) and Tg Pitas (Pitas) – are worse than originally thought.

He said the Agora Borneo cluster is expected to contribute to half of new Covid-19 cases here today, while the Tg Pitas cluster has spread to more villagers and their relatives outside Pitas.

“Expect Sabah’s new cases today to be higher than yesterday (279 cases). Extensive targeted screening by Sabah Health Department is going to increase our daily positive number in the short term, but we are tackling the root of the problem.

“Please continue to observe all standard operating procedures (SOPs).”

The Agaro Borneo cluster was detected last Tuesday involving a workplace in Bataras hypermarket, 1 Borneo Hypermall here, with the index case being a 23-year-old salesman.  

As of last Tuesday, the cluster saw 26 people test positive for Covid-19.

Yesterday, Pitas recorded the highest new cases at 128, after screening of close contacts in the Tg Pitas cluster, which stemmed from a funeral in Kg Naruntung Pitas.  

The infection rate for the cluster worsened with people’s movement between Pitas and Banggi Island. – The Vibes, July 9, 2021

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