Covid: 512 new cases in S’wak, half in Miri Division

KUCHING: Sarawak recorded 512 new Covid-19 infections yesterday with half of the cases detected in Miri Division, said the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC).

It also reported two more Covid-19 fatalities, which brought the cumulative death toll in the state to 211.

The committee said Miri Division’s 256 new cases were detected in Miri district (160 cases), Subis district (75 cases) and Beluru district (21 cases).

“A total of 326 cases or 63.67 per cent of the new cases today (yesterday) were detected in Miri, Bintulu and Subis,” it said in its Covid-19 daily update, adding that the state’s cumulative number of infections has increased to 36,321 cases.

“Of these, 222 cases consisted of close contacts who have been given quarantine orders and fitted with monitoring bracelets.”

SDMC said they comprised close contacts to existing active cases and clusters (149 cases) as well as close contacts (73 cases) at a longhouse (Rumah Libau, Subis) that have been placed under the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO).

“A total of 11 cases were detected through symptomatic individual screening, 21 cases through screening of oil and gas sector employees before ‘signon’, while another two cases were from other categories of screening at health facilities,” it added.

Apart from the three districts, new cases were also recorded in Bintulu (91), Sibu (47), Kuching (31), Beluru (21), Tebedu (13), Kanowit (12), Sri Aman (8), Selangau (8), Mukah (7), Pusa (7), Saratok (6), Dalat (5), Serian (5), Sarikei (4), Samarahan (4), Tatau (2), Sebauh (2), Meradong (1), Lawas (1), Pakan (1) and Betong (1).

On the fatalities, the committee said both cases involved victims who were in their 60s.

“One of the victims was a 63-year-old woman from Sibu who sought treatment at Sibu Hospital after she was confirmed as Covid-19 positive through screenings of close contacts to a positive case on May 5.

“This case also had a history of coughing two days prior to being tested positive. She died on May 10 after her health condition deteriorated,” it said, adding that the victim had a history heart disease, diabetes and hypertension.

It said the other victim was a 64-year-old man who had suffered from shortness of breath as well as symptoms of cough and fever.

“His RT-PCR swab test on May 4 was found positive. He died on May 10 after his health condition deteriorated,” it said, noting that the victim had hypertension and diabetes.

Meanwhile, SDMC said 470 Covid-19 patients had recovered yesterday of which 124 were discharged from Sibu Hospital and the quarantine and lowrisk patients treatment centre (PKRC); 102 from Miri Hospital and PKRC; 75 from Bintulu Hospital and PKRC; 69 from Kapit Hospital and PKRC; 36 from Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) and PKRC; 19 from Sarikei Hospital and PKRC; 11 from Sri Aman Hospital; four from PKRC Serian, and four from PKRC Betong.

“The total number of recoveries in the state has now increased to 29,396 or 80.93 per cent out of the overall cases,” it said.

It also said that 6,634 patients were still being isolated and treated at hospitals and PKRCs throughout the state.