‘Immigration, prisons clusters push new cases in state to 406’

KUCHING: Sarawak’s daily Covid-19 cases shot up to 406 yesterday, with 108 of these cases deriving from immigration detention centre, prisons and immigration arrests, said state Health Department director Dato Dr Mohamed Sapian Mohamed.

At the same time, he said the state also recorded three more deaths, bringing Sarawak’s Covid-19 death toll at 431 to date.

He disclosed that 34 of the new Covid-19 cases were from the Batu Lintang immigration detention depot in Sri Aman (Benteng Sri Aman Cluster), 56 from Miri Central Prisons inmates (Tembok Miri Cluster) and 18 immigration arrests in Kuching District.

“Kuching recorded the most cases at 109 today (yesterday), followed by Miri (68), Sibu (36), Sri Aman (34), Bintulu (16), Sarikei (16), Bau (14), Subis (12), Mukah (11), Samarahan (10), Serian (10) and Tebedu (10),” Dr Mohamed Sapian told a press conference here yesterday.

Districts recording single-digit cases were Betong, Tatau and Telang Usan with nine cases each, Meradong and Selangau with seven cases each, Lundu (five), Dalat (four), Kapit (three), two cases each in Kanowit, Saratok and Song, and one case in Asajaya, he said.

Belaga, Beluru, Bukit Mabong, Daro, Julau, Kabong, Lawas, Limbang, Lubok Antu, Marudi, Matu, Pakan, Pusa, Sebauh, Simunjan and Tanjong Manis did not record any new case yesterday.

The 429th death involved a 86-year-old man in Sibu who was admitted into Sibu Hospital and tested positive for Covid-19 on June 26. He had hypertension and heart problem.

The 430th death was a 70year-old woman from Bukit Mabong, who was admitted into Kapit Hospital after having tested positive for Covid-19 on May 25. She had asthma.

The 431st death involved a 78-year-old man from Song, who was admitted into Kapit Hospital after having tested positive for Covid-19 on June 15. He had hypertension.

On another note, Dr Mohamed Sapian announced four more new clusters in Sarawak, three involving detention centres. They are the Benteng Sri Aman Cluster, Tembok Sri Aman Dua Cluster involving the Sri Aman Prisons, Tembok Miri Cluster, and the community cluster dubbed the Jalan Pasar Basah Cluster in Mukah, involving the wet market there.

A total of 32 individuals tested positive for Covid-19 from the Jalan Pasar Basah Cluster after 229 individuals had undergone screening, while 50 more were still awaiting their lab test results.

From Sri Aman Benteng Cluster, 38 out of 56 inmates who were from Indonesia tested positive for Covid-19, while the rest were still awaiting their lab test results.

The Tembok Sri Aman Dua Cluster, meanwhile, recorded 55 positive Covid-19 cases involving 45 immigrants and 10 locals, and one still awaiting lab test result.

From the Tembok Miri Cluster, 59 inmates tested positive for Covid-19 out 631, while 572 were still awaiting their lab test results.

Dr Mohamed Sapian also announced the end of Jalan Selirik Cluster in Kapit and Jalan Brooke Cluster in Miri as both did not record any new positive case in the past 28 days.

Meanwhile, Sarawak currently has 99 active clusters, with 17 reporting 138 new Covid-19 cases yesterday.

At the top of the list was the Tembok Cluster in Miri with 56 new cases, followed by Benteng Sri Aman Cluster in Sri Aman (34), Tema Saan Cluster in Tebedu (10), Pasar Basah Cluster in Mukah (seven), Lunyim Cluster in Telang Usan (seven), Sega Cluster in Bau (five), Kampung Sebandir Hilir Cluster in Lundu (four), Sungai Sengkabang Cluster in Subis (four), Jalan Sagang Cluster in Bau (three), KM85 Cluster in Mukah (two), Dulang Cluster in Subis (one), Jalan Kidurong 3 Cluster in Bintulu (one), Kevok Cluster in Telang Usan (one), Nanga Tada Cluster in Kanowit (one), Jalan Sungai Antu Cluster in Sibu (one), and Sungai Entajum Cluster in Tatau (one).

Kuching recorded the most cases at 109 today (yesterday), followed by Miri (68), Sibu (36), Sri Aman (34), Bintulu (16), Sarikei (16), Bau (14), Subis (12), Mukah (11), Samarahan (10), Serian (10) and Tebedu (10).

Dato Dr Mohamed Sapian Mohamed