Bernama file photo shows a health worker conducting a Covid-19 swab test.
KUCHING (June 17): Covid-19 clusters have been detected at two institutions for the elderly here with a total of 26 confirmed cases and one death so far, the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee said.
It said in a statement that the Iris Garden Cluster and Jalan Stampin Cluster were among six new clusters declared by the Health Department today.
“Both clusters had resulted from close contact between residents of the elderly care centres,” the statement said.
The death was recorded in the Iris Garden Cluster, where a total of 31 people had been screened and eight were positive for Covid-19, while the rest were negative.
In the Jalan Stampin Cluster, 18 people had tested positive after 46 people were screened. Six people are awaiting the results of their second round of tests, while 22 others were found negative for the virus.
All the confirmed cases in both clusters have been admitted at the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) or the Quarantine and Low-Risk Treatment Centre (PKRC) here.
The other clusters declared today are the Jalan Keruing Cluster here, Kampung Serikin Cluster in Bau, Sawai Niah Cluster in Subis and Jalan Kidurong Empat Cluster in Bintulu.
SDMC said Jalan Keruing Cluster involved a business premises in Sejingkat which had 11 positive cases (including the index case) out of the 28 individuals who have been screened so far.
“This workplace cluster was caused by social movement and close contacts at a workplace and infections also spread among family members and social contacts of the index case,” it said.
In addition to the positive cases, 14 individuals have tested negative while another three are pending lab test results.
All positive cases have also been admitted at the SGH or PKRC.
SDMC said the Kampung Serikin Cluster had resulted in 19 positive cases (including the index case) out of 70 individuals who were screened so far.
“There were also 34 negative cases and another 17 are pending lab test results,” it said and noted that the cluster was the result of social movement and close contacts among residents in the village.
All positive cases have been admitted to SGH as well as the PKRC in Kuching and Bau districts.
“In Bintulu, the Jalan Kidurong Empat Cluster was traced back to a settlement at Setinggan Sebatang Kelapa at Jalan Kidurong Empat.
“A total of 18 positive cases (including the index case) were detected out of 43 individuals,” said the committee, adding that 25 are still pending lab test results.
It said the cluster was caused by social movement and close contacts among residents.
All positive cases have been admitted to Bintulu Hospital and the PKRC in Bintulu.
In Subis, it said the Sawai Niah Cluster had resulted in 32 positive cases (including the index case) from 375 individuals who have been screened.
“This workplace cluster was traced back to an oil palm mill at Batu Niah and was the result of social interaction and close contacts among factory workers and family members who live within the compounds of the mill.
“Apart from the positive cases, 31 have tested negative while 312 are pending lab test results,” it said.
All positive cases have been admitted to Miri Hospital and the PKRC in Miri.
There are currently 92 active clusters in the state with 16 clusters recording an increase of 96 new positive cases today.
The clusters are Bali Pie Cluster in Subis (24); Kampung Sebandi Hilir Cluster in Lundu (11); Kidurong Empat Cluster in Bintulu (11); Jalan Masket Cluster in Sebauh (10); Ulu Sangan Cluster in Tatau (9); Banting Cluster in Sri Aman (7); Jalan Samarakan Cluster in Tatau (5); Semanok Cluster in Tatau (4); Sungai Kakus Cluster in Tatau (3); Jalan Tanjung Kidurong 3 Cluster in Bintulu (3); Sawai Niah Cluster in Subis (3); Gerigat Cluster in Kabong (2); Muara Tabuan Cluster in Kuching (1); Pekan Tatau Baru Cluster in Tatau (1); Dulang Cluster in Subis (1); and Gran Stumbin Cluster in Sri Aman (1).
Meanwhile, SDMC announced the end of the Bungey Cluster in Betong and Jalan Sawit Cluster in Sarikei as no new cases had been detected or reported in the past 28 days.