KUCHING: The State Health Department (JKNS) today (May 5) declared two new Covid-19 clusters in Sarawak.
The State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) said the two new clusters are Tanjong Kibong Cluster in Sibu and Jalan Sawit Cluster in Sarikei.
“The Tanjong Kibong Cluster is a workplace cluster that involves a company providing support and maintenance for the shipping industry at Tanjong Kibong, Sibu.
“The index case is a 35-year-old Sabahan man who was detected through symptomatic individual screening at a private clinic on April 15. The man was referred to Sibu Hospital before he subsequently tested positive for Covid-19 on April 16.
“A technician for the company, the man was infected in Sibu and then spread to his housemates and co-workers,” said SDMC.
The committee then revealed that the Covid-19 infection surveillance activity and screening of close contacts discovered 32 positive Covid-19 cases.
“All 14 individuals who tested positive have been admitted to Sibu Hospital and Integrated Quarantine and Treatment Centre (PKRC) in Sibu district for isolation and further treatment.
“Of the 72 individuals who were screened from this cluster, 40 were found negative using rT-PCR test,” it said.
Jalan Sawit Cluster in Sarikei is a workplace cluster that occurs at the residence and dormitories of the employees of a company involved in the construction of Pan Borneo Highway at its operations site at Jalan Sawit, Sarikei.
“The index case is a 28-year-old local man who was detected through symptomatic individual screening at a private clinic in Sarikei on April 26. The preliminary test was found to be reactive and was referred to Sarikei Hospital before he tested positive on April 28.
“The man, a surveyor at the construction site at Jakar, Sarikei was infected locally. Through him the disease spread among his family members, roommates and co-workers.
“Further investigation and screening of close contact of the index case on 92 individuals revealed 18 positive Covid-19 cases including the index case, five were found to be negative and 69 are still waiting for their test results. All 18 individuals who tested positive were admitted to Sarikei Hospital and PKRC in Sarikei district for isolation and further treatment,” said the committee.
Four clusters in the state ended today as they had recorded no new infections in the past 28 days.
“They are Jalan Muhibah Cluster in Betong, Jalan Kampung Hilir Cluster in Sibu, Batu Gong Cluster in Serian and Taman Vistagro Cluster in Sri Aman.
“Out of 76 active clusters in the state, only 19 recorded 93 new cases while 57 recorded no new cases,” said SDMC.
