Vaccination our only hope: Masidi
Published on: Wednesday, August 11, 2021
By: Anthea Peter
Kota Kinabalu: Covid-19 cases in Sabah are expected to remain high until a significant percentage of Sabahans are fully vaccinated, said Sabah’s Covid-19 spokesperson Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.The State recorded a continuous four-digit high the past week, with the latest record on Tuesday being 1,383 cases, which is another record-high and a jump of 136 cases compared to 1,247 on Monday.
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“The number is predictable and expected. Until and unless a significant percentage of the population is vaccinated, the number will remain high.
“Cases will only start to decline when we manage to vaccinate the population at a significant percentage,” he said, Tuesday.
He explained that with widespread community transmission, contact tracing has become more difficult and implementing a full lockdown to a certain extent is rendered ineffective.
“The virus’ ‘playing field’ has expanded and now it’s more difficult to rein-in.
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“Our strategy now is to vaccinate every adult as soon as possible so that the virus would run out of victims or has lesser number to infect,” he said.
Masidi explained that the State Health Department and related agencies are proactively working to inoculate the people at a rapid rate.
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“As of Aug 9, 1,126,645 doses have been administered and this means 40.9 per cent of Sabah’s adult population have been injected with at least the first dose.
“Those who have completed both doses are still low, which is only 17.6 per cent or 485,880 doses.
“The Government will continue the effort to increase the injection capacity of JKNS while ensuring an adequate supply of available vaccines,” said Masidi.
He said 22,784 individuals under phase two have received their first dose on Tuesday, bringing the tally to 1,081,380 while 13,989 have received their second dose, bringing the tally to 430,353.
Meanwhile, Masidi urged the public to continue playing their role in curbing transmission by practising high self-discipline in adhering to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).
“The high number of cases involving close contacts indicates that some of us are still negligent in complying with SOPs. It is also a reminder to reduce social activities with friends so that we are not exposed to the risk of Covid-19 infection,” Masidi stressed.
Sabah recorded 12 deaths on Tuesday, five in Tawau, three in Sandakan and one each in Keningau, Kota Kinabalu, Telupid and Tenom.
One new cluster was identified in Ranau, named as the Timbua Cluster which was sparked by a gathering during a sacrificial ceremony at Timbua Mosque.
“The index case is a 52-year-old male cancer patient who was tested positive on July 23 during a pre-admission screening. His guardian in the ward was also tested positive,” said Masidi.
He added that out of 239 screened contacts, 48 were tested positive, while 95 tested negative and 97 test samples are still awaiting results.
“Aside from Kg Timbua, cases in this cluster also involve other localities including Kg Lembah Permai, Kg Kembiroi, Kg Merungin 2 and the Ranau Police Headquarters,” he said.
On Sabah’s caseload, Kota Kinabalu topped the list with 326 cases, followed by Tawau with 168 cases, Sandakan with 138 cases and Tuaran with 92 cases.
Close contacts continue to be the largest contributor with 749 cases, making up 54.2 per cent of the caseload, followed by 322 symptomatic cases, 111 cluster cases and 73 targeted screening cases.
“A few districts recorded a noticeable sharp rise in cases, namely Sandakan (+86), Kota Marudu (+37), Keningau (+36), Beluran (+23), Kinabatangan (+21), Kota Belud (+18), and Tenom (+17),” he said.
Of the 1,383 caseload, 12 involve babies, 101 involve one to five-year-olds, 213 involve six to 17-year-olds, 961 involve 18 to 59-year-olds whereas 96 cases involve those above 60.
The caseload also comprises 1,158 Malaysians and 225 non-Malaysians, 1,374 local cases and nine imported cases while 989 are unvaccinated and 112 have completed both doses.
Masidi added 1,064 cases are in category one and two, which are asymptomatic to mild cases that do not require hospital treatment, while 19 cases are in category three, 12 cases are in category four and six cases are in category five.
Some 919 Covid-19 patients have been discharged from the hospital while 4,542 patients are currently receiving treatment at hospitals and low risk quarantine and treatment centres (PKRC).
Masidi said 142 patients are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with 72 needing ventilator support.
Meanwhile, 11 localities will be placed under EMCO starting Aug 12 to 25, namely three KK localities (J&L Factory quarters, Kg Gudon, Manggatal and Kg Lobou) as well as Kg Menunggui in Kota Belud, Kg Tengah in Kinarut, Kg Petagas in Putatan, Kg Pogunon in Penampang, Kg Timbua-Kembiroi-Lobou Baru in Ranau, Kg Batu 1 in Sipitang, Kg Bukit Kukusan in Tawau and Kg Batu-Batu in Tenom.
EMCOs in six KK localities will be extended from Aug 12 to 25, namely Bandar Sierra, Kg Kalasanan, Kg Pulau, Penampang, Bandaran Segama, Taman Bukit Setia and Taman Putera Jaya.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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