KUCHING: The gathering of several longhouse residents in Sungai Durin on the night before the Gawai Day celebration on May 31 has sparked a new Covid-19 community cluster in Sibu.
The new cluster named as Sungai Durin Cluster is among the four newly reported clusters in Sarawak today (June 7).
The Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) said for this cluster, 52 cases have been screened, whereby 22, including the index case, were tested positive for the virus, while the other 30 tested negative.
All the positive cases were admitted to Sibu Hospital and the Covid-19 Low Risk Quarantine and Treatment Centre (PKRC) in Sibu district for isolation and further treatment.
In addition, the affected longhouses were placed under the enhanced movement control order (Emco) to control the spread of infection to other areas.
Meanwhile, another community cluster is the Jalan Masket Cluster which involves a longhouse at Batu 8, Jalan Masket Nibongmali in Sebauh. This cluster was caused by social interaction among the longhouse residents.
Forty-five individuals were screened, whereby 17 cases, including the index case, were tested positive. Twenty-three tested negative and five are awaiting their test results. Those tested positive have been admitted to Bintulu Hospital and the Bintulu PKRC for further treatment.
As a result of this cluster, the plantation of which is the workplace of the index case and the affceted longhouse, have been put under Emco to curb the spread of infection to other areas.
Meanwhile, another workplace cluster named as the Jalan Airport Cluster involved several workers’ quarters at Jalan Airport, Miri. This cluster was caused by social movement and close interaction among the house occupants.
One hundred and twenty-two individuals were screened, whereby 12 cases, including the index case, tested positive, while 103 tested negative and seven are still awaiting laboratory test results.
All positive cases were admitted to Miri Hospital and the Miri PKRC for isolation and further treatment.
Yet another workplace cluster is the Jalan Ilmu Cluster, involving a food and entertainment premises at Jalan Ilmu, Miri. The cluster was caused by social movements of employees and visitors to the premises.
Out of the 242 being screened, 24 cases including the index case tested positive, while 208 others tested negative and 10 are still awaiting laboratory test results. All positive cases have been admitted to Miri Hospital and the Miri PKCR to be treated.
The State Health Department has declared the end of three Covid-19 clusters, namely the Abok Bon Cluster in Subis, Ulu Anap Cluster in Tatau and Singgahsana Lodge Cluster in Kuching. No new cases involving these clusters were reported in the past 28 days.
Meantime, there are still 77 active clusters in the state, with a total of 13 clusters having recorded an additional of 89 new positive cases.