New cluster involving Haj pilgrims detected
Published on: Thursday, December 23, 2021
By: Ricardo Unto
Kota Kinabalu: A new Covid-19 cluster has been detected involving a group of Haj pilgrims who recently returned from Saudi Arabia to Sandakan.The index patient in the imported cluster named “Millennium Saudi” was a 40-year-old local who went for pilgrimage from Dec 4-15.
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“A PCR test was conducted on the man at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport’s entry point, who later continued travelling to Sandakan,” said State Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, who is also Sabah’s Covid-19 spokesperson, in a statement, Wednesday.
“The man then underwent mandatory home quarantine in Sandakan before being informed of his positive test result on Dec 17.
“Testing on other pilgrims and close contacts found 10 more positive cases.”
All close contact patients had been quarantined and treated.
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Meanwhile, Sabah recorded 202 new Covid-19 cases, Wednesday, bringing the State’s total to 239,026.
Masidi said of the new cases, nine were detected from cluster screenings, 82 from symptomatic screenings, 82 from contact screenings and 29 from other screenings.
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Kota Kinabalu was again at the top with 43 cases, followed by Tuaran (31), Ranau (17), Sandakan (17), Kota Belud (15) and Beaufort (10).
“Some 17 districts registered single-digit new cases, while four districts did not record any case,” he said.
Some 197 of the 202 new cases are categorised under Category 1 and 2, and one case in Category 3, two cases in Category 4 and a patient in Category 5, while another case is still under further observation by the Health Ministry.
The State also recorded 457 recoveries (cumulatively 231,123), and two fatalities – one each in Sandakan and Sipitang.
“Some 802 patients are still undergoing treatment – 430 in hospitals, 365 in public quarantine and low-risk treatment centres (PKRC), six in temporary detention centres/prisons and one in a private facility.
“The number of patients needing critical care is 35 – 33 in ICU/repurposed critical care and two in open wards, and 10 are on ventilators.
“Meanwhile, the number of Stage 4 and 5 patients who have not completed their vaccination is 26,” he said.
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