Covid-19: 744 new cases, 5 deaths in Sarawak

0

Bernama file photo

KUCHING (June 14): Sarawak has recorded 744 new Covid-19 cases and five deaths from the coronavirus today, said State Disaster Management Committee.

In a statement, the committee said three of the deaths were reported in Sibu Hospital and the remaining two at Sarawak General Hospital. All but one of the deceased, aged between 50 to 85 years old, suffered from comorbidities.

The latest figures brought the cumulative tally of positive cases in the state to 56,187 and the death toll to 356.

The 352nd death involved a 55-year-old man from Sibu who was confirmed to have contracted Covid-19 on May 19 and he suffered from comorbidities of high blood pressure and dyslipidaemia.

Another man from Sibu, aged 56, tested positive on May 21 and he suffered from high blood pressure and late-stage chronic kidney illness.

The third death reported in Sibu involved a 50-year-old man who was tested positive on May 15 and he did not suffer from any commodities.

At Sarawak General Hospital, two deaths were reported and one involved a 72-year-old female senior citizen who tested positive on June 13 and she suffered from comorbidities of high blood pressure and chronic kidney illness.

The committee said another death at the Kuching hospital involved an 85-year-old man who was tested positive on June 11 and he suffered from gout and chronic heart and kidney disease.

On the new cases, Kuching led with 121 cases, followed by Bintulu (103), Tatau (74), Sibu (63), Kapit (52), Sarikei (47), Subis (45), Song (44), Sri Aman (31), Meradong (26), Tanjung Manis (22), Lubok Antu (20), Miri (20), Lundu (16), Mukah (13), Telang Usan (11), Serian (6), Samarahan (5), Bukit Mabong (4), Pakan (4), Bau (3), Kanowit (3), Tebedu (3), Julau (2), Dalat (2) and one each in Selangau, Sebauh, Betong and Beluru.

“From the 744 new cases reported, a total of 61 of the patients exhibited symptoms and signs associated with Covid-19 when undergoing screenings,” said the committee.

Moreover, the committee said a majority of the new cases, or 588 positive patients, were detected from individuals undergoing the quarantine order.

“A total of 440 new cases were close contacts to previously identified positive patients and 12 of them exhibited symptoms.”

The committee said another 119 new cases were detected during other screenings at health facilities with none showing symptoms.

A total of 146 from the overall new cases today were also linked to existing active Covid-19 clusters with 12 of them exhibiting symptoms.

“Thirty-seven new cases detected today were symptomatic patients screened at health facilities and another two cases were asymptomatic individuals returning from other states in Malaysia. These two cases were classified as Import-B.”

SDMC said that 412 new recovery and discharged cases were reported today, bringing the total recoveries in the state to 46,003 or 81.87 per cent of the overall cases.

Currently, 9,711 positive patients are still receiving treatment at PKRCs and hospital wards, while none of the 744 patient-under-investigation (PUI) reported today are pending laboratory results.

A total of 81 patients have been warded in intensive care units and 34 of them require intubation, says the committee.

Another 553 person-under-surveillance (PUS) were also reported today, bringing the current number of people placed in 105 quarantine centres state-wide to 5,232.

On separate matter, the committee pointed out the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs had conducted 286 inspections today and a total of 40 compounds were issued since May 13 this year.