KOTA KINABALU – Fresh recommendations have been made to the National Security Council (NSC) to extend the existing conditional movement control order (CMCO) in Sabah.
Sabah Covid-19 official spokesperson Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said the proposal was made based on the extended spike in Covid-19 cases in the state.
The Sabah government leaves it up to the NSC to decide on whether to impose a fresh CMCO or to tighten existing health SOPs.
The CMCO has been imposed in Sabah, with the exception of several enhanced movement control orders (EMCO) in several localities – six in Semporna and one in Kunak at present.
On the shortage of beds in quarantine facilities, Masidi said work is being carried out to open up more extension wards for when the need arises.
Yesterday, health authorities said 99.5% or 5,624 of the 5651 beds available in all local health facilities are occupied.
On the number of backlog samples, Masidi said fresh samples were added in, taking the number to 12,720 from over 10,000 samples left uncleared yesterday.
“The increase in the number of backlog samples shows that the Health Department has widened the scope of screening for infections,” he added.
On the issue of some Covid-19 patients being instructed to do their own treatment at home, Masidi clarified the health authorities have run into a delicate situation in which there are delays for some from getting treatment.
He said those who are only in the early stages are told to do their treatments from home until the healthcare workers arrive.
Masidi also advised home patients to practice self-discipline and to isolate themselves so as to not infect those close to them.
On whether the Sabah government will announce a fresh assistance package, Masidi said there are no new announcements at this point of time.
He added that only RM26.7 million out of the RM50 million state government allocation had been used to assist those affected by the pandemic.
As of today, Masidi said 77,966 food baskets have been distributed statewide to targeted groups.
Today’s Sabah Covid-19 numbers
Sabah accounts for 528 or 77.4% of the 710 new cases reported in the country.
The state went over the 10,000 mark, with 10,396 confirmed cases, 6,607 still active, 3,705 recoveries and 84 total deaths.
Some 203 cases involving clusters, including one new cluster – Samudera cluster.
The new Samudera cluster was identified during the screening of an individual with symptoms on Oct 20 at the Duchess of Kent Hospital in Sandakan. Seven more cases were found among the patients' close contacts.
In Labuan, some 19 new cases came from existing clusters.
Nine new deaths were reported in Sabah and Labuan, one from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, five from Sandakan’s Duchess of Kent Hospital, Likas Women and Children Hospital (1), Tuaran hospital (1) and Labuan hospital (1).
He said the higher cases in Kota Kinabalu (288) had been contributed by the Kapayan Prison cluster, accounting for 144 cases, while the higher cases in Semporna (50) and Tawau (61) was due to the backlog samples. – The Vibes, October 23, 2020
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