KUCHING: Sarawak recorded one new imported Covid-19 case in Bintulu District today, bringing the total number of positive cases in the state thus far to 1,074.
In a statement on Friday, the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) said this latest case was a Filipino man who had entered Malaysia to work on an oil and gas ship in Bintulu.
They said the case had travelled from Manila, Philippines to Kuala Lumpur (KL) on Nov 13 and was placed at a quarantine centre in Petaling Jaya to undergo the mandatory 14-day quarantine for individuals coming from overseas.
During the quarantine period, the case underwent a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rT-PCR) test on Nov 13, which returned negative. He also took a Rapid Test Kit (RTK) Antibody test on Nov 26 which was non-reactive for Covid-19.
“On Nov 30, the case continued his journey to Sarawak via flight from KL to Miri Airport. Upon arrival, the case was checked into a quarantine centre and underwent rT-PCR testing at a private hospital, with a negative result,” said the committee.
They said the case was then released from quarantine order and was allowed to continue his journey to Bintulu on Dec 5.
“When he arrived in Bintulu, the case stayed at a hotel while waiting to sign onto the ship. On Dec 9, the case once again underwent a Covid-19 test at a private hospital for the purpose of signing onto the ship and the rT-PCR test was positive for Covid-19 on Dec 10,” said SDMC.
They said the case was admitted into the isolation ward at Bintulu Hospital for further treatment, adding that the case is still under investigation and contact tracing is being actively conducted.
“Based on his travel history and early investigations, the case is believed to have been infected while still in the Philippines – thus this is categorised as an ‘Import A’ case,” they said.
As of Friday, there were still four active clusters in Sarawak, namely the Besi Cluster, Jalan Abell Cluster, Green Hill Cluster, and Wisma Saberkas Cluster.
The committee said two new cases had recovered and been discharged from Miri Hospital on Friday, bringing the cumulative tally of recovered and discharged cases in the state thus far to 1,043 or 97.11 percent.
As of Friday, there were 12 cases undergoing treatment at hospital isolation wards – ten in Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) and one each in Miri Hospital and Bintulu Hospital.
“Sixteen persons-under-investigation (PUI) were reported and two PUI are still awaiting laboratory results,” said SDMC.
