Death toll rises to seven

KUCHING: Sarawak yesterday recorded two more Covid-19 fatalities, bringing the death toll to seven since March 17.

State Disaster Management Committee chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said the latest deaths were recorded at Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) here and Miri Hospital.

“The state also recorded six new positive cases today (yesterday) which are being treated at SGH (3), Miri Hospital (2) and Sibu Hospital (1).

“This brings the total number of positive cases for Sarawak to 135 since the first positive case was recorded on March 13,” he told a press conference here yesterday.

The deputy chief minister added that 50 new Person Under Investigation (PUI) cases were also recorded yesterday, bringing the total to 1,176.

"Out of 1,176 PUI cases, 977 are negative while 64 are still awaiting lab results," he said.

Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah in a press conference in Kuala Lumpur earlier said the Kuching Covid-19 death was a 47-year-old male who was admitted to SGH on March 23 and passed away at 8.10am.

The Miri death was a 46-yearold female who has a history of high blood pressure and autoimmune disease, and died at 9.02am, he said.

Meanwhile, Uggah said the authorities led by the local governments have conducted disinfection operations at several locations in Kuching such as Stutong Community Market and Medan Niaga Satok.

He said the operations will continue at more hotspots identified by the local authorities.

“They are going to do more tomorrow (today) and the local government will continue to identify hotspots that need to be disinfected,” he said.

Among those with Uggah at the press conference were Local Government and Housing Minister Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian and Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah.