KOTA KINABALU: Sabah on Sunday recorded 163 new Covid-19 cases and two deaths in Sandakan and Semporna respectively, said Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun.
He said two new clusters in Penampang and Sandakan were also reported.
Of the 163 new cases, he said Tawau recorded 37 cases, followed by Kota Kinabalu (31), Kunak (22), Keningau (17), Kudat (15) and Penampang (10).
Lahad Datu, Kalabakan, Semporna, Kinabatangan, Sandakan, Tuaran, Kota Marudu, Papar and Beaufort recorded single digit rise in new infections.
“Keningau district has been reclassified from orange to red zone,” he added.
Masidi, who is also Sabah’s official Covid-19 spokesperson, said the Jalan Bundusan Cluster in Penampang involved workers at a food processing factory.
He said the index case was a 43-year-old male worker who tested positive for Covid-19 on June 19 through targeted screening carried out at Taman Puri Warisan, Kota Kinabalu that was under the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO), even though he did not show any symptoms.
He said the employer of the index case subsequently conducted Covid-19 screenings at the workplace and found eight more positive cases among close contacts, which brought the cumulative infections to nine under the cluster.
Meanwhile, Masidi said the Kg Nelayan Tengah Cluster in Sandakan was linked to a ‘doa selamat’ ceremony at the village on June 13.
He said the index case, a 45-year-old woman, was confirmed to have contracted Covid-19 at Klinik Mansor on June 16, after experiencing fever and insomnia since five days ago.
“Screening on 45 close contacts uncovered another 24 positive cases while 21 contacts are still awaiting results.”
On the other hand, Masidi said 241 Covid-19 patients have been discharged from hospital or recovered.
He said 1,687 patients were still undergoing treatment, including 474 in hospitals, 1,211 in Low-Cost Quarantine and Treatment Centres and two in temporary detention centre or prison.
“There are 71 patients in intensive care units and 24 require ventilators.”