KUCHING: Sarawak today, recorded nine new positive Covid-19 cases, bringing the total number of positive cases in the state to 1,084.
Of the total, six were recorded in Sibu, two in Kuching and one in Sri Aman.
Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) said Case 1,081 was a local man who underwent screening on Dec 16 before returning to work in Papua New Guinea; his result came back positive on the same day. The case was categorised as a local infection.
Case 1,082 was a local man from Johor who entered Sarawak through Sibu Airport on Dec 6 and tested negative for the virus after he was screened upon arrival.
However, he had been experiencing cough and sore throat since Dec 14 and was found positive after his second screening on Dec 15. This case was categorised as an imported case.
Cases 1,077 to 1,080 involved Indonesian women who underwent screening before starting work in Sibu. Their results during the first screening at a private health facility on Dec 6 were negative but they tested positive for their second screening on Dec 15.These cases were categorised as imported cases.
Except for Case 1,082, all other cases did not show any signs or symptoms. They were admitted to Sibu Hospital for further treatment. Contact tracing is underway.
On the Kuching cases, SDMC said Case 1,083 was a local man from Pahang who entered Sarawak through Kuching International Airport on Dec 6 and tested negative for the virus after he was screened upon arrival.
However, he tested positive for his second screening on Dec 16. This case was categorised as an imported case.
Case 1,084 involved an Indonesian man who underwent screening on Dec 16 and tested positive on the same day. He was an illegal immigrant who was detained by the Immigration Department while on his way from Sungai Skrang to Serian.
The case did not have any valid travel document. It was categorised as an imported case.
The two cases reported in Kuching have been admitted to Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) for further treatment and contact tracing is underway.
Meanwhile, one case reported in Sri Aman — Case 1,076 — was an Indonesian man detained by the Immigration Department. He underwent screening on Dec 15 and was found positive on the same day.
Based on the initial investigation, the man has a valid social travel pass. The case was categorised as an imported case.
SDMC reported that there was no new recovery and discharged cases, with the total number remaining at 1,046 or 96.49 percent.
As of today, there were 19 cases still receiving treatment at hospitals, namely 12 at SGH, six at Sibu Hospital and one at Bintulu Hospital.
Forty-two new person under investigation (PUI) cases were reported with two awaiting lab test results.
Sarawak still has only one active cluster — Besi cluster with the total positive cases remaining at 12 including the index case.
