File photo of a man getting tested for Covid-19.
KUCHING (June 20): Sarawak’s total number Covid-19 cases is dangerously close to breaching the 60,000 mark after the state registered 661 new cases today.
The State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) said in its Covid-19 daily update that the latest figures brought the cumulative number of infections to 59,800.
It also said that the state had recorded two death cases, bringing the death toll to 380.
“A total of 389 (58.85 per cent) of today’s cases were detected in five districts namely Sibu, Kuching, Bintulu, Subis and Miri,” it said.
Sibu topped the list and was the sole district with three-digit cases at 134.
This is followed by Kuching with 88 cases, Bintulu (72), Subis (52), Miri (43), Mukah (31), Sri Aman (31), Julau (29), Tatau (26), Samarahan (23), Kapit (20), Bau (19), Serian (15), Meradong (14), Sarikei (12), and Song (10).
There were also 13 districts which reported single-digit cases namely Selangau (9), Kanowit (8), Simunjan (5), Sebauh (5), Lundu (3), Pusa (3), Asajaya (2), Bukit Mabong (2) as well as Telang Usan, Tebedu, Tanjung Manis, Saratok and Dalat with one case each.
The committee said the new cases consisted of 58 individuals who had shown signs and symptoms of Covid-19 infection when screenings were conducted.
“There were also 553 cases detected from individuals who were instructed to be quarantined at quarantine centres,” it added.
It gave a summary of the cases, noting that 385 were detected from screenings of individuals with contact to positive cases; 158 cases from screenings of individuals from existing active clusters; 59 from other screenings at health facilities; and 49 cases from screenings of symptomatic individuals at health facilities.
There were also seven Import B cases involving individuals who had returned from other states in the country and three Import A cases involving individuals who had returned from Qatar (2) and Spain (1).
On the fatalities, SDMC said both victims were female and that the cases were recorded in Miri and Sibu.
“The 379th death case involved a 47-year-old woman who hailed from Marudi.
“The victim, who had a history of diabetes, had tested positive for Covid-19 on June 11,” it said.
It said a 38-year-old woman from Sibu was the state’s 380th death case.
“She had tested positive on June 7 and had comorbidities of hypertension, diabetes and obesity,” it added.
Meanwhile, 485 cases recovered today, bringing the total number of recovery and discharged cases to 49,171 or 82.23 per cent out of the overall cases.
SDMC added that 10,120 patients were still being isolated and treated and hospitals and PKRCs statewide while a total of 661 new person-under-investigation (PUI) cases were reported with none pending lab test results.