Cases surge in Kelantan

Education centre outbreaks behind rapid rise in clusters

PETALING JAYA: Kelantan’s rising Covid-19 clusters emerging from workplaces, especially in the education sector, is the contributing factor in the rapid increase in cases there.

Kelantan’s Covid-19 infectivity rate is now at 1.43, the highest among other states. The national infectivity rate is at 1.16.

Based on The Star’s analysis, Kelantan has the third lowest vaccination rate compared to other states in the country, with an estimated 1.73% of the state’s population having received the first dose and 1.04% having received their second dose.

In terms of vaccine registration, data from the Special Committee on Covid-19 Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee (JKJAV) showed that participation from Kelantan is the second lowest among other states and federal territories in the country, with only 24.4% of the people in Kelantan having signed up for the vaccine as of yesterday.

The lowest interest is from Sabah, with only 14.60% having signed up.

The lowest vaccination rate (with one dose) based on state is Sabah (1.44%), followed by Selangor (1.51%), while Selangor recorded the lowest vaccination rate for those who have received both doses of vaccination at 0.97%.

Seven districts in Kelantan, currently in the red zone based on Covid-19 cases in the past 14 days, have been placed under the movement control order from April 16-29.

The seven districts are Kota Baru, Pasir Mas, Pasir Puteh, Bachok, Machang, Tumpat and Tanah Merah.

Schools and educational institutions under the seven districts have been ordered to close for a week from Sunday until April 24.

Inter-district travel has also been banned and Ramadan bazaars across the state have been cancelled.

Based on the Health Ministry’s data as of April 18, Kelantan has 15 active clusters that make up 23% of the 64 active clusters in the country.

Ten out of the 15 clusters were workplace clusters, which have recorded 933 cases since March 17.

A quarter of Covid-19 cases from the workplace clusters were outbreaks at education centres, while three out of the total four clusters detected at education centres were among the top contributors in daily cases in the country on April 18.

The clusters with the most Covid19 cases were the Kok Lanas cluster with 74 new cases (110 total cases) on April 18, the Kampung Bunut Sarang Burung cluster with 43 new cases (99 total cases) and the Kampung Domis cluster with 31 new cases (76 total cases).

Meanwhile, a total of 517 cases were detected at a detention centre in the Tembok Pengkalan Chepa cluster while 274 cases were recorded from four community clusters.

The number of Covid-19 cases in the state was highest in January but reduced significantly in the following months during the MCO period.

However, figures rose again at the end of March as most movement restrictions were lifted.

As of April 18, Kelantan recorded 1,897 Covid-19 cases throughout a 14-day period, with Kota Baru contributing the highest figure at 789, followed by Tumpat with 329 cases and Pasir Mas at 310 cases.