Two new clusters emerge

KUCHING: The Health Department has identified two new Covid-19 clusters in the state, namely the Emperoh Jambu Cluster in Kuching and Sungai Bakong Cluster in Meradong, said Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah.

He said the Emperoh Jambu Cluster, which involves the districts of Kuching, Samarahan and Serian, is a community cluster which had occurred at Kampung Emperoh Jambu in Padawan here.

“The index case for the Emperoh Jambu Cluster is a 45year-old Sarawakian man who was detected through screening prior to reporting for duty on Feb 16.

“He is believed to have infected his family members who may have then spread the infection to other contacts during the funeral of a family member of the index case’s wife, from Feb 3 to 5,” he told a press conference yesterday.

The deputy chief minister said as a result of screening and tracing of close contacts to the index case and his family members, an additional 59 cases were detected.

“As of Feb 22 at 12 noon, a total of 337 individuals have been screened where 60 cases had tested positive including the index case, 40 negative and 237 still pending lab test results.

“All cases have been admitted to Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) as well as the quarantine and low-risk patient treatment centre (PKRC) in Kuching for isolation and further treatment,” he said, adding that no deaths have been recorded under this cluster thus far.

Consequently, Uggah announced that Kampung Emperoh Jambu will be placed under the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) for 14 days, from today until March 8, to curb the spread of the virus.

On the Sungai Bakong Cluster, Uggah said the index case is a student staying at the Murni Hostel at SMK Meradong located near Sungai Bakong in Meradong town, who was detected through symptomatic screening on Feb 15 after experiencing symptoms on Feb 12.

“The results from the active case detection (ACD) screening at the school dormitory found an additional 21 cases.

“As of Feb 22 at 12 noon, a total of 593 individuals have been screened where 22 individuals including the index case have tested positive; 37 negative and 534 still pending lab test results,” he said.

He said the 22 positive cases have been admitted to Sarikei Hospital and PKRC Sarikei for isolation and further treatment.

“All teachers, staff and hostel students at SMK Meradong who were exposed to the positive case were also instructed to undergo quarantine and limit their movement to within the school only,” he said, adding that no deaths have been recorded under this cluster to date.