Bernama file photo shows an active case detection exercise.
KUCHING (July 3): Four new Covid-19 clusters were declared in the state today, including the revived Semuja Cluster in Serian involving the Semuja Immigration Depo, said the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC).
The other clusters in the state involve a lock-up and two workplaces.
The Semuja Cluster in Serian is the second cluster to occur at the same place after it was first declared on May 8 with a total of 441 positive cases.
“The cluster originated from six Pakistani detainees that were screened at a private facility for repatriation on July 1. The first screening for entry into the depo revealed contract tracing with 59 additional positive cases,” SDMC said in its statement.
The committee added that the detainees were mostly Indonesians, followed by Bangladeshi, Indian and Myanmar nationals and all of them had completed their jail sentences at Sri Aman Prison and Sibu Central Prison.
They were screened before being transferred back to the depo after testing negative prior to being sent back to their own countries.
All detainees were placed at the isolation block for the second screening and 14 days quarantine before being moved to the main cell block. A total 75 were screened with 71 tested positive and four tested negative in the first screening.
All the positive cases were placed at the Semuja Immigration Depo PKRC. Further investigation and contact tracing are on-going.
The lock-up cluster, dubbed Pagar Tebedu Cluster in Tebedu, involved detainees at the Tebedu Police Station holding cell. A total of 29 people were screened and all tested positive.
All those who tested positive were admitted to Serian district PKRC.
The first workplace cluster, the Jalan Haji Taha Cluster in Kuching, involves a security company based there. A total of 294 people screened, with 121 tested positive, 143 negative and 30 still awaiting lab results.
All those who tested positive were admitted to the Sarawak General Hospital and Kuching district PKRC.
The other workplace cluster is the Bintulu 35 Cluster in Bintulu involving an oil rig under Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) at the Bintulu maritime zone. A total of 83 people were screened with 15 positive and 68 still awaiting lab results.
All positve cases were admitted to Miri Hospital and Miri district PKRC.
At the same time, SDMC also announced the end of five clusters after they did not record any new positive cases in the last 28 days. They are Tanjung Kibong Cluster in Sibu, Jalan Jambusan Cluster in Bau, Lubok Nitih Cluster in Saratok, Sungai Sian Cluster in Meradong and Jalan Pinang Riam Cluster in Miri.
Meanwhile, the state has 96 active clusters, with 11 continuing to report 33 new Covid-19 cases today.
On top of the list was the Blimbing Cluster in Bau (9), Pagar Tebedu Cluster in Tebedu (5), Po Ai Cluster in Sri Aman (4), Kampung Sebandi Hilir Cluster in Lundu (3), Nanga Tada Cluster in Kanowit (3), Jalan Sungai Antu Cluster in Sibu (3), Lunyim Cluster in Telang Usan (2), Ulu Teru Cluster in Beluru (1), Luteng Cluster in Telang Usan (1), Simpang Koko Cluster in Sarikei (1) and Jalan Haji Taha Cluster in Kuching (1).