Kota Kinabalu: A new cluster was identified in Lahad Datu, Friday, involving students at SM Sains Lahad Datu with 39 infections to date – barely a week after Sabah was officially declared cluster-free.
Named the Jalan Segama Lahad Datu Cluster, Sabah’s Covid-19 Spokesperson Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said the cluster stemmed from a 16-year-old local male Form Four hostel student.
“The index patient started having symptoms on April 18 and was found positive the same day after undergoing screening.
“Close contact screenings on hostel mates found another 38 positive.
“They have been isolated and given further treatment,” he said in a statement, Friday.
Sabah’s cases shot up to 149 on Friday from 85 the day earlier, while one death was recorded in Sandakan.
Masidi attributed it to the new education cluster as well as a higher number of districts recording a rise in cases, which was 17 districts on Friday compared to eight the day earlier.
“Four districts recorded double digit figures, namely Lahad Datu (40), Sandakan (18), Kota Kinabalu (13) and Penampang (10).
“Some 19 districts recorded one case, with 14 recording less than five cases, while Kota Marudu, Kunak, Nabawan and Tongod did not record any new cases,” he added.
Masidi said the majority of cases were mild, with 141 out of 149 being category one and two infections, while four were in category three, two in category four and one in category five.
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