KUCHING: Sarawak recorded 139 new Covid-19 cases today (Mar 3), pushing the state’s case tally over the 10,000 mark to 10,063 cases.
Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said another Covid-19 death was also recorded, bringing the total number of Covid-19 deaths in Sarawak to 84.
“The 84th death was Case 8,360, a local man aged 85 who was receiving treatment at Sibu Hospital as he was experiencing shortness of breath. His reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rT-PCR) Covid-19 test was positive on Feb 23,” he said.
He said the case had also experienced symptoms such as loss of smell and appetite as well as a cough several days before seeking treatment at the hospital.
“His health condition declined and he passed away on Mar 1. The case had comorbidities — chronic kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and gout,” he said at the SDMC Covid-19 update press conference today.
Regarding the 139 new cases, he said 39 were reported in Sibu District, Kuching (29), Bintulu (17), Betong (13), Kapit (6), Bau (6), Meradong (5), Miri (5), Selangau (5), Pusa (4), Serian (4), Sebauh (2), Julau (1), Sarikei (1), Asajaya (1), and Song (1).
Of the 39 cases in Sibu District, he said 31 were persons screened through active case detection (ACD) of contacts of positive cases; six were symptomatic individuals screened at health centres; one was categorised as ‘other screening’ at a health centre and one was a health worker.
“There were 29 cases reported in Kuching District — 10 involved the Emperoh Jambu Cluster, eight were individuals screened through ACD (five categorised as local infections and three as Import C cases from Serian), three were other screenings at health centres, three were symptomatic individuals screened at health centres, two involved the Jalan Green Cluster, two involved the Kampung Sungai Maong Cluster, and one involved the Jalan Ho Pin Cluster,” he said.
Uggah, who is also Deputy Chief Minister, said 10 of the 17 cases recorded in Bintulu District were persons screened through ACD of contacts of positive cases, while six were other screenings at health centres and one was a symptomatic person screened at a health centre.
He said eight of the 13 cases in Betong District were other screenings at health centres whereas the other five involved the Jalan Muhibbah Cluster.
“Of the six cases in Kapit District, three were other screenings at health centres, two involved the Gelong Cluster, and one was an individual screened through ACD of contacts of positive cases,” he said.
He said all six cases in Bau District were from other screenings carried out at health centres there.
“As for the five cases in Meradong District, two involved the Sungai Bakong Cluster, two involved individuals with symptoms screened at health centres, and one was an individual screened through ACD,” he said.
He said the five cases each reported in the districts of Miri and Selangau as well as the four cases reported in Pusa District were all people screened through ACD of contacts of positive cases.
Of the four cases in Serian District, he said three were individuals screened via ACD of contacts of positive cases while the other case involved the Emperoh Jambu Cluster, categorised as an Import C case from Kuching.
He said the two cases in Sebauh District and the single case each reported in Julau District and Sarikei District were people screened through ACD of contacts of positive cases.
“The single case recorded in Song District involved the Pasai Cluster while the single case in Asajaya District involved a symptomatic individual screened at a health centre,” said Uggah.
