Bernama file photo showing a health worker performing a swab test.
KUCHING (May 1): Sarawak recorded 445 new Covid-19 cases and two deaths today, said the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC).
The death toll in Sarawak now stands at 180 while the total cumulative tally of cases is now 31,104.
In a statement, the committee said the 179th death involved a 72-year-old woman who was detected positive on April 18 via rT-PCR test during an active screening activity at high-risk areas. She was linked to the Sungai Duan Cluster in Mukah.
“She was placed at a Covid-19 treatment and quarantine centre in Mukah. She was then referred to Bintulu Hospital after experiencing fever, cough and breathing difficulties.”
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The committee said her health condition soon deteriorated and she passed away on April 28. She had comorbidities of high blood pressure, diabetes and dyslipidemia.
The second death involved a 75-year-old man who was being treated at Serian Hospital after suffering from breathing difficulties.
“The deceased experienced coughing for a week and his health condition was deteriorating. A rT-PCR test tested positive on April 26,” said the committee.
He was referred to Sarawak General Hospital for further treatment and he passed away on April 30 after his health condition deteriorated further. He had comorbidities of high blood pressure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
On the breakdown of new cases according to districts today, the committee said Sibu reported 98 cases, Beluru (51), Miri (41), Mukah (40), Selangau (37), Bintulu (31), Kuching (26), Samarahan (22), Serian (20), Julau (12), Kanowit (12), Subis (11), Limbang (10), Tebedu (8), Kapit (6), Meradong (4), Song (3), Tatau (3), Belaga (2), Bau (2), Bukit Mabong (2), Saratok (1), Sebauh (1), Asajaya (1) and Betong (1).
The committee said 60 per cent of the new cases today were concentrated in the districts of Sibu, Beluru, Miri, Mukah and Selangau.
“From the 445 new cases reported today, only 56 patients exhibited symptoms associated with Covid-19 infection when the screening tests were conducted.”
Moreover, the committee said 352 of all patients who tested positive today were from individuals who were instructed to undergo quarantine.
It pointed out 235 new cases were detected during contact tracing of previously detected positive patients and seven of them exhibited symptoms, 115 cases were detected from existing clusters, 48 cases were discovered via symptomatic patients’ screenings at health facilities and 45 cases from other screenings at health facilities with one exhibiting symptoms.
Two cases involved individuals who had entered Sarawak from other states and they were classified as Import-B. Both patients did not exhibit any symptoms of infection.
As for recoveries, the committee said the state had recorded 441 new recoveries today, with 121 patients being discharged from Bintulu Hospital and its PKRC, Sibu Hospital and PKRC (83), Kapit Hospital and PKRC (63), Sarawak General Hospital and PKRC (53), Miri Hospital and PKRC (30), Serian PKRC (30), Mukah PKRC (29), Sarikei Hospital and PKRC (14), Betong PKRC (13), Sri Aman Hospital (4) and Lawas PKRC (1).
The latest recoveries brought the total Covid-19 patients who had recovered and discharged from hospitals in the state to 24,888 or 80.02 per cent of the overall cases in the state.
“The total number of patients who are still being treated and isolated in PKRC and hospital wards are 5,419,” said the committee, pointing out 445 person-under-investigation (PUI) were reported today with none still waiting for their sample laboratory results.
A total of 874 Covid-19 patients were still being treated in Sarawak General Hospital, Sibu Hospital and PKRC (933), Bintulu Hospital (1,373), Miri Hospital (644), Limbang Hospital (13), Sarikei Hospital (313), Kapit Hospital and PKRC (803), Betong PKRC (83), Mukah PKRC (156), Serian PKRC (154), Semuja PKRC (5), Sri Aman Hospital (62) and Sri Aman Prison PKRC (6).
The committee said 61 patients were being treated in intensive care units and 32 of them required intubation.
Meanwhile, the committee said 589 person-under-surveillance (PUS) had registered to be quarantined throughout the state today and a total of 7,245 people were being quarantined at the moment.