KUCHING: One new positive Covid-19 case was detected in Meradong District, Sarikei today (Dec 30), bringing the total number of positive cases in the state to 1,115.
State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) said the case has been categorised as an import case and involves a local man who had returned to the state via Sibu Airport on a flight from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on Dec 19.
“Before returning to Sarawak, the case underwent a Covid-19 screening at a private laboratory in SC Medan Tunku, Kuala Lumpur on Dec 15 and the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rT-PCR) test was found to be negative for Covid-19.
“Upon arrival at Sibu Airport on Dec 19, the case was given a 14-day quarantine order at his house in Sg Mador, Meradong and was required to wear the Covid-19 wristband.
“The eighth-day screening test was conducted at a government health clinic in Meradong on Dec 28 and the rT-PCR test was found to be positive on Dec 29,” said SDMC today.
The committee revealed that during initial investigation, the case claimed to have not left the house but had eaten with other family members and had received visits from several residents from the same longhouse during Christmas.
“Close contacts to family members of the case have been admitted to the quarantine centre for Covid-19 screening and for further isolation and monitoring purposes. Tracking of other close contacts to this case and active case detections are in full swing,” it added.
SDMC said there were also four recovered and discharged cases — two each from Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) and Sibu Hospital.
“This brings the cumulative total of recovered and discharged cases to 1,068 or 95.78 percent,” it said.
It added that 26 cases are currently receiving treatments at isolation wards in hospitals statewide.
“Of the total, 12 cases are receiving treatments in SGH, five cases each in Miri Hospital and Bintulu Hospital, and four cases at Sibu Hospital,” said SDMC.
