Covid-19: Three deaths, 148 new cases in Sarawak
KUCHING: Sarawak recorded three Covid-19 deaths yesterday, just one day after registering zero fatalities for the first time in 12 days.
Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) said the new deaths were reported in the districts of Kuching, Miri and Sibu, which raised the Covid-19 death toll in the state to 42.
“The 40th death involved a 40year-old Sarawakian man who went for the rT-PCR test at a health clinic in Kuching on Jan 17 after suffering from sore throat and loss of taste. The case, who tested positive, also experienced chest discomfort and shortness of breath.
“On Feb 1, he was found unconscious and had passed away,” SDMC said in a statement, adding the victim had heart disease, high blood pressure and dyslipidemia, and a history of hospitalisation in 2020.
On the 41st death, the committee said it involved a 59-yearold Sarawakian woman who was admitted to Miri Hospital for chemotherapy treatment.
It said she suffered from fever and an increased respiratory rate for a few days after the treatment, and her rT-PCR test was found to be positive. Her condition worsened and she passed away on Feb 2.
It noted that the victim also had a history of comorbidity namely Hepatitis B.
The 42nd fatality which was recorded in Sibu involved a 74-yearold Sarawakian woman who was treated at Sibu Hospital when her rT-PCR screening as a close contact came back positive.
“The health condition of the patient deteriorated and she was pronounced dead on Feb 3. The victim had been bedridden for the past 10 years and had a history of comorbidity including cerebrovascular disease and dementia,” it said.
On the number of new cases in Sarawak, SDMC reported a total of 148 infections which were detected in Sibu (48), Bintulu (15), Dalat (15), Beluru (14), Miri (12), Kapit (8), Kanowit (8), Sebauh (7), Song (7), Sri Aman (5), Bau (3) and one each in Kuching, Lundu, Tatau, Subis, Selangau and Sarikei.
The new infections brought the cumulative number of Covid-19 cases in Sarawak to 4,824.
SDMC said the Pasai Cluster continued to register new cases with 13 recorded in Beluru, eight in Kapit, seven in Kanowit, six in Sibu, five each in Dalat and Sebauh, two in Song, and one each in Bintulu, Miri and Lundu.
“The Rakut Cluster also recorded an increase in positive cases and they were registered in Bintulu (3) and Beluru (1), while Sebauh recorded two cases under the Bukit Sekubong Cluster,” it said.
It added that all three new cases in Bau were under the Tabong Cluster.
The local infections that were registered yesterday were detected through active contact screenings of positive cases; symptomatic individuals; screening of health workers; screening of those who went to health facilities; and screening of individuals in a Covid-19 risk area.
Only one import case was recorded yesterday and it was registered in Bintulu.