Sarawak records eight new cases

KUCHING: Sarawak recorded eight new positive Covid-19 cases yesterday, bringing the total number of positive cases in the state to 780.

The Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC), in its daily update yesterday, said all eight cases were locally transmitted and were detected in Kuching.

Case 773 involved a local female who came into close contact with Case 752 and Case 759, who were found positive on Oct 12 and 15, respectively, and had a history of visiting Case 752 when the latter was undergoing home quarantine.

“The first rT-PCR test was conducted on the case on Oct 13, of which the outcome was negative on Oct 14. She was sent to the quarantine centre to undergo the remainder of the 14day quarantine.

“The case had undergone the second rT-PCR test on Oct 22, where the result was positive.

“She did not show any symptom of infection and was admitted to Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) for further treatment,” it said.

Meanwhile, Cases 774, 775 and 776 were also in close contact with Case 768, who was found positive on Oct 18, said SDMC, adding that all three cases were detected through the second screening conducted yesterday.

It is learnt that the cases were also in close contact with Case 770, who had also contracted the virus from Case 768.

“Case 774 involved a local female, who is a health worker at a government health facility in Kuching. She had been experiencing fever and coughing since Oct 14.

“Case 775 involved a local female, working as a cleaner at a mall in Kuching.

“Case 776 involved a local female, working as a cook at a government health facility in Kuching. She had been experiencing fever and coughing since Oct 6.

“All three cases were admitted to the SGH isolation wards for further treatment.”

Case 777 and Case 778, said SDMC, were close contacts of Case 771 – these cases had undergone self-screening at a private health facility in Kuching on Oct 23 after Case 771 was found positive for the virus.

Case 777 was a local female, working as a cake seller in Kuching who previously conducted her business at Jalan Seladah construction site along Jalan Song, near Emart Batu Kawa, near the Shell station at Jalan Stephen Yong, Yongkoong Hardware shop, a carwash at Mile 4 1/2, Bako Kaya scrap metal trading area, and Royal Richmond Gold condominium.

“Any individual who had purchased the cakes from Case 771 and Case 777 throughout the past two weeks are advised to come forward and undergo Covid-19 screening,” advised SDMC.

Meanwhile, Case 778 involved a local female who was a student in China and had been in Sarawak since Jan 13.

Both Case 777 and 778 had a history of respiratory tract infection last week, but they recovered from it and currently, they are placed in SGH isolation wards.