Kota Kinabalu: A new community cluster was detected in Kuala Penyu following a religious ceremony in Kg Kayul which was attended by families in the village as well as residents from Kg Kebunau and Kg Gerowot.
Sabah’s Covid-19 spokesperson Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said the cluster, named as the “Kayul Cluster”, was sparked by a 62-year-old Malaysian male who organised the religious ceremony.
“He was tested positive on Jan 11 after experiencing fever and cough symptoms since Jan 5.
“Contact screenings were conducted among same household members and social contacts who attended the ceremony, which found 25 cases in this cluster to date,” he said in a statement, Saturday.
Sabah’s cases rose slightly to 265 on Saturday from 244 the day earlier, with nearly 64 per cent comprising those fully vaccinated. Three deaths were recorded, one each in Ranau, Tawau and Kota Belud.
Masidi said 23 had received their booster shots while 168 had completed both doses of the vaccine. 50 were ineligible for the vaccine, while 24 were unvaccinated.
He said 70 cases were sporadic infections while 164 were close contacts, which indicate a lack of standard operating procedure (SOP) compliance among the community.
On the caseload, Kota Kinabalu topped the list with 70 cases, followed by Papar (23), Ranau (23), Penampang (19), Tuaran (19), Kota Belud (18), Keningau (13), Putatan (13) and Sandakan (10).
“Penampang recorded the most significant decrease with a fall of 31 cases.
“Overall, 10 districts recorded two-digit cases, whereas 11 districts recorded single-digit cases and six districts did not record any new cases,” said Masidi.
He said 261 out of 265 cases were category one and two infections, while one case is in category three, two in category four and one in category five.
Some 144 Covid-19 patients have been discharged from the hospital, while 738 patients are currently receiving treatment at hospitals, low-risk quarantine and treatment centres (PKRCs), prisons/temporary detention centres and private facilities.
Masidi said 31 patients are under critical care with 28 in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)/repurposed critical care and three in the open ward, while nine patients needed ventilator support.
On Sabah’s immunisation programme, Masidi said 10,734 individuals were vaccinated on Jan 14, of which 10,734 were adults and 78 were teenagers.
“Some 2,452,379 individuals have completed their first dose, of which 76.69 per cent were adults. Some 2,407,960 individuals have completed both doses of the vaccine, of which 75.97 per cent were adults,” he said.
He added that 336,878 teenagers have received their first dose, whereas 312,268 teenagers have been fully vaccinated thus far, which is 71.95 per cent of the teenage population.
* Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss.
* Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.