KUCHING: Covid-19 fourth wave continued its wrath on Monday with the state registering a record-breaking 153 positive cases, the highest number detected in a single day since the first case was detected on March 13 last year.
State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the number of cases dwarfed all previous daily cases in the state.
There were 94 cases in Miri, 25 in Sibu, 17 in Dalat, 13 in Kuching, two in Sri Aman and one each in Selangau and Beluru.
“In Miri district, there were 23 infections from the Bah Sayap Cluster in Miri, four infections from the Stutong Cluster in Kuching, three infections from the Jelita Cluster in Miri and two infections from Pasai Cluster in Sibu.
“Two individuals who returned from high-risk areas tested positive after screening while 60 others also tested positive after screening but their sources of infection are still under investigation.
“In Sibu district, there were 20 infections from the Pasai Cluster, two infections from the screening of symptomatic individuals, one infection from close contact screening and two infections from screening of individuals who returned from high-risk areas,” he told a press conference today.
In Kuching district, Uggah said the cases stemmed from two infections from the Stutong Cluster, eight infections from the screening of individuals who returned from high-risk areas and three infections from the screening of symptomatic individuals.
“There are also 17 cases in Dalat as a result of infections from the Pasai Cluster and two cases in Sri Aman as a result of infection from the Pasai Cluster and close contact screening.
“Beluru and Selangau recorded a case each with the screening of one symptomatic individual and the screening of an individual who returned from abroad respectively,” he added.
Uggah explained a new cluster, dubbed the Jelita Cluster, was detected in Miri.
“The index cases for this cluster comprised four business partners who came to Miri from Melaka and Pahang and tested positive for Covid-19 on December 31.
“By noon, January 11, 54 people have been screened; eight cases were detected as positive for Covid-19 including the index cases, there were 25 negative individuals and 21 individuals still awaiting test results.
“The positive case rate for this cluster is 19.03 percent,” he revealed.
Despite the high number of cases, Uggah assured that the committee had the upper hand in the battle against the Covid-19 fourth wave in the state as most of the origins of the cases had been detected.
