KUCHING: The Sarawak Health Department has declared three new Covid-19 clusters in the state.
State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embah said these clusters are the Jalan Disa Cluster and Jalan Ding Lik Kwong Cluster in Sibu district, as well as the Ulu Balingian Cluster in Selangau district.
The Jalan Disa Cluster is a community cluster which was detected at a religious primary school in Jalan Disa, Sibu.
“This cluster involves a 28-year-old local woman who was detected through symptomatic individual screening at the Lanang Health Clinic on April 13. She was confirmed positive the next day.
“The case who is also a teacher in the primary school has experienced symptoms since Apr 19 and was reported to have travelled to Kabong district in Betong on March 31 to April 4 during the school holidays,” he told a press conference on the daily Covid-19 update at the Old State Legislative Assembly (DUN) building here today (April 17).
Following active case detection (ACD) and close contact screening, an additional 19 cases were detected.
A total of 199 individuals were screened where 20 tested positive including the index case, while 179 cases were negative during their first screening.
Uggah also mentioned that the detection of other contacts in Kabong has also been made in order to curb the spread of this cluster.
Meanwhile, for the Jalan Ding Lik Kwong Cluster, he said that it is known as a workplace cluster as it involves a timber industry company in Teku Sibu.
“The case is a 28-year-old local woman who was detected through symptomatic individual screening at a private clinic in Sibu City on April 12 and she was confirmed positive on April 13.
“She is an administrative assistant in the company and began experiencing symptoms on April 9. It was reported that she went to Sarikei district on April 1 to 4,” Uggah said.
Through active case detection (ACD) and close contact screening, a total of 43 individuals were screened where 16 tested positive including the index case, while 27 were negative during their first screening.
“All positive cases in this cluster were referred to Sibu Hospital and were admitted to the Quarantine and Low-Risk Treatment Centre (PKRC) in Sibu district.
“The detection of other contacts in Sarikei district will be made in order to curb the spread of this cluster,” he added.
According to Uggah, the Ulu Balingian Custer in Selangau is known as a community cluster which was detected involving a secondary school and a residence there.
“This cluster involves a 16-year-old student who was also detected through symptomatic individual screening at the Selangau Health Clinic on April 13 and was confirmed positive on April 16,” he said.
Following active case detection (ACD) and screening close contact screening, an additional 100 positive cases were detected which consist of 98 students and two other contacts.
“A total of 200 individuals were screened where 101 tested positive including the index case, while 99 cases were negative during their first screening.
“The positive cases in this cluster have been referred to Sibu Hospital and were sent to PKRC in Sibu and Selangau districts.”
The state now has 49 active clusters where 11 reported an additional number of cases while the other 38 clusters reported zero cases.
