KOTA KINABALU – A total of 3,030 infants and children under the age of 12 have been infected with Covid-19 in Sabah, making up 12.15% of the state’s total caseload as of yesterday.
State Health Department statistics, announced by Sabah Covid-19 spokesman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun today, showed that 1,241 of the children are younger than 5, and 191 are babies below 12 months old.
He said the percentage of coronavirus cases involving children is high, which proves that the young are vulnerable to the disease.
Speaking on the mental health of those affected by the virus, he said the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Service (MHPSS) under the state Health Department is giving psychological first aid (PFA) to all in need.
The service has been utilised by Covid-19 patients, people under quarantine, members of the public, as well as staff mentally affected by the pandemic.
Masidi said anyone can access the PFA service by calling the MHPSS hotline in their respective districts, or get counselling and psychosocial support by contacting the state Welfare Department.
Children with Covid-19 are also provided with this service. To date, a total of 977 PFA kits, comprising books and stationery, have been distributed to affected kids in Sabah.
The MHPSS team also carry out art, music, dance and storytelling activities during therapy sessions with children.
Masidi said any child requiring further intervention will be referred to psychiatrists.
He added that there are still 4,496 test samples in the state awaiting results, with 46% to be handled in Sabah, and the rest at laboratories in Kuala Lumpur.
“In Sabah, we are only capable of processing 2,700 samples per day. That is why it has become one of our ‘dreams’ to be able to process 4,000 samples per day, so that we won’t need to send samples to KL.”
Sabah recorded 512 new infections today, taking its overall cases to 25,441.
The state also recorded three virus deaths – two in Tawau and one here.
A total of 300 patients have recovered, while 2,268 are still undergoing treatment, with 641 in hospital and 1,627 at low-risk quarantine and treatment centres.
Lahad Datu recorded the most fresh cases at 194, followed by Kota Kinabalu (71) and Tawau (50). – The Vibes, November 20, 2020
