Kota Kinabalu: Sporadic infections have become the most common cause of infection due to the large percentage of symptomatic cases in Sabah, indicating that the Covid-19 virus has already established itself in the community.
“Symptomatic cases are the leading contributor to new cases in practically all districts in Sabah, especially districts with three-digit daily cases like Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Sandakan, Tuaran, Papar, Tawau, Lahad Datu and Ranau,” said Sabah’s Covid-19 spokesman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.
He said residents in these locations should limit their movement in congested areas and follow the standard operating procedures (SOPs) at all times.
“The risk of infection is particularly high in crowded public spaces,” said Masidi in a statement, Thursday.
On Thursday, Sabah’s caseload fell marginally to 2,969, a decrease of 364 from Wednesday’s 3,333.
Masidi said a total of 2,953 (99.46 per cent) of the 2,969 cases were in Category One and Two. “Eight cases are in Category Three, six in Category Four and two in Category Five. This means that only 16 people will need to go to the hospital. This is also compelling evidence of vaccination’s efficacy,” he added.
However, the number of cases is still significant in practically all areas.
According to Masidi, the rate of virus transmission is faster because of the high percentage of symptomatic cases (56.35 per cent).
This can result in a significant number of daily cases of infection.
There were 565 cases in Kota Kinabalu, 346 cases in Penampang, 327 cases in Sandakan, 248 cases in Tuaran, 241 cases in Papar, 181 cases in Tawau, 151 cases in Lahad Datu and 121 cases in Ranau.
Only Kalabakan recorded one-digit cases, while 18 other districts had double-digit cases.
“As previously said, today’s percentage of symptomatic cases is high, at 56.35 percent (1,673 out of 2, 969 cases),” he said.
On Thursday, the State added four new clusters, involving three educational institutions: the Jalan Getah cluster in Kunak, the Madai cluster in Madai and the Jalan Gudon cluster in Kota Kinabalu, which involve SMK Kunak, SMK Madai and SMK Bandaraya, respectively.
All of the people involved in the three new educational institution clusters are in the moderate category, and they have been segregated and treated appropriately.
Sutera 2, a workplace cluster in Kota Kinabalu, is the fourth new cluster.
The Jalan Getah cluster’s index case involves a female student staying in SMK Kunak’s dormitory who tested positive after being screened for symptoms.
Close contacts were screened and found 21 more positive people, including three new cases on Thursday, for a total of 22 cases.
The Madai custer involves a 13-year-old female student who also went for screening for symptoms and was confirmed positive. The cumulative number of cases of this cluster is 40 cases, including 10 new cases Thursday.
The Jalan Gudon cluster involves a 17-year-old male student who was similarly found positive after undergoing screening after showing symptoms. The cumulative number of cases so far is 22 cases including five new cases Thursday.
As for the Sutera 2 cluster, it involved a 33-year-old management staff at a construction site found positive after undergoing screening test at a private clinic after having symptoms. Screening of close contacts found 57 more employees tested positive. All cases were isolated and given further treatment.
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