Bernama file photo
KUCHING (May 21): Sarawak today recorded eight Covid-19 deaths, making it the highest the state has ever recorded to date.
The Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) in a statement said five of the deaths were in Kapit, two in Sarikei and one in Saratok.
The figures brought the total death toll from Covid-19 in the state to 247.
The committee also recorded 612 new cases today, bringing the cumulative number of cases in the state to 40,871.
It said 369 or 60.29 per cent of the cases were detected in Sibu, Bintulu and Miri.
The 240th death involved a 73-year-old woman who was admitted to Kapit Hospital after experiencing vomiting, diarrhoea and loss of appetite.
She underwent rT-PCR swab test on May 5 and her result returned positive for Covid-19 the same day.
Her health continued to deteriorate and she died on May 12. SDMC said she had a history of chronic obstructive lung disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and chronic kidney disease.
The 241st death is of a 75-year-old man who was referred to the Kapit Hospital from a government clinic after complaining of breathing difficulty.
He was diagnosed with fever and loss of appetite since two days prior. According to SDMC, his rT-PCR and rapid antigen test kit (RTK-Ag) showed positive for Covid-19 on May 14.
His health continued to deteriorate and he died on May 18. The man had a history of high blood pressure, diabetes, gout, heart disease and chronic kidney disease.
The 242nd death is of a 72-year-old woman who was admitted into the Kapit Hospital after experiencing lethargy and loss of appetite for two days.
Her rT-PCR and RTK-Ag swab tests showed positive for Covid-19 on May 2. Her health continued to deteriorate and she died on May 19.
SDMC said the woman had a history of high blood pressure and diabetes, adding that the case was related to the Jalan Selirik Cluster.
The 243rd death is of a 73-year-old woman who was treated at the Kapit Hospital after her swab test on May 11 showed she was positive for the virus. She was tested because she had close contact with an existing positive case.
Her health continued to decline and she died on May 19. The case had a history of a final stage chronic kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and gout.
The 244th death involved a 62-year-old woman who sought treatment at the Saratok Hospital after experiencing chest pain when breathing.
SDMC said the woman had been coughing since five days prior. She underwent an rT-PCR and RTK-Ag swab tests, and the result returned positive for Covid-19 on May 17.
She was then referred to the Sarikei Hospital for further treatment. Her health continued to decline before she died on May 19. She had a history of high blood pressure, diabetes, gout and heart disease.
The 245th death is of an 85-year-old man who was admitted into the Sarikei Hospital after his rT-PCR test returned positive for Covid-19 on May 7, following a high-risk area screening.
He had been vomiting and coughing since two days prior. His health continued to decline before he was confirmed dead on May 19.
SDMC said the man had a history of high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, gout and a chronic kidney disease.
The 246th death is of an 80-year-old man who was admitted into the Kapit Hospital after being diagnosed with a fever while undergoing a dialysis.
He had also been coughing, having a sore throat and a cold three days prior, said SDMC.
His rT-PCR and RTK-Ag swab tests returned positive for Covid-19 on May 17, before his health declined and died on May 20.
The man had a history of final stage chronic kidney disease, heart disease and a history of a stroke attack.
The 247th death is of a 73-year-old man who was admitted into the Sarikei Hospital after he was tested positive for Covid-19 on April 26 following a symptomatic individual screening.
He was coughing, experiencing chest pain when breathing, and having difficulty breathing since a day prior.
The man’s health deteriorated and he died on May 20. SDMC added that the man had a history of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and a chronic obstructive lung disease.
On the 612 new positive cases recorded today, Sibu was at the top with 108 cases followed by Bintulu with 103 cases and Miri 86.
Miri recorded 86, followed by Kuching (72), Kapit (40), Sarikei (30), Kanowit (26), Mukah (25), Selangau (17), Belaga (14), Samarahan (11), Saratok (10), Pusa (9), Subis (9), Sebauh (8), Sri Aman (7), Pakan (7), Tatau (6), Bukit Mabong (5), Betong (5), Serian (4), Meradong (3), Asajaya (2), Dalat (1), Lawas (1), Tebedu (1), Song (1) and Daro (1).
All in all, a total of 6,510 active cases were being treated in the state to date, with 75 of them in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and 30 requiring intubation.
On another note, 480 cases have recovered and were discharged today, bringing the number of recovery in Sarawak to date at 34,022 or about 83.24 per cent of the total number of cases in the state.
At the same time, 612 person-under-investigation (PUI) cases and 436 person-under-surveillance (PUS) cases have been recorded, said SDMC, adding that to date a total of 6,129 PUS cases were being quarantined in 105 hotels and other accommodations across Sarawak.