Fears SOPs are not observed
Published on: Sunday, July 25, 2021
By: Anthea Peter
Kota Kinabalu: Sabah set a new record high as cases shot up to 712 on Saturday from 516 on Friday, while a new high of eight deaths were recorded – three in Sandakan and one in Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Kudat, Tawau and Beluran, respectively.Sabah’s Covid-19 Spokesperson Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun (pic) said 53.8 per cent of the caseload are close contacts (383 cases) which possibly indicates the people’s complacency in complying with the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).
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“This spike in cases reflect that many still do not fully comply with the SOPs.
“As we are in the recovery phase, there is a possibility that society has become complacent in complying with the Movement Control Order (MCO) as many are under the impression that we are recovering,” said Masidi, Saturday.
He added that the high number of close contacts also indicate that many are carriers of the virus and may have infected their friends.
“This will cause the number of transmissions to double. As such, the community must comply with all SOPs and limit going out of their homes unless completely necessary,” Masidi stressed.
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He added that the caseload is also contributed by 112 cases from existing clusters as well as 88 cases from targeted screenings.
“Some 79.3 per cent of the caseload are in category one (206 cases) and category two (359 cases),” said Masidi, adding that they do not need hospital treatment.
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Kota Kinabalu topped the list with 161 cases, of which 90 are close contacts, followed by Sandakan with 98 cases which were mostly contributed by targeted screenings (38 cases) and close contacts (36 cases).
Some 366 Covid-19 patients have been discharged from the hospital while 3,541 patients are currently receiving treatment at hospitals and low risk quarantine and treatment centres (PKRC).
Two new clusters were identified on Saturday, namely the Nosoob Baru Cluster in Penampang as well as the Jalan Mat Salleh Cluster encompassing the districts of Kota Kinabalu, Putatan, Penampang, Papar and Ranau.
The Nosoob Baru Cluster was believed to be sparked during a funeral ceremony in Kg Nosoob Baru on July 10, involving families from Kg Nosoob Baru, Kg Pogunon and Kg Terawi.
“The index patient is a 28-year-old woman who was tested positive during a pre-surgery screening on July 13. There are 17 cases in this cluster to date,” said Masidi.
The Jalan Mat Salleh Cluster, which sparked at the Federal House along Jalan Mat Salleh, Sembulan, stemmed from a 26-year-old male pharmaceutical officer who was tested positive at the Luyang Health Clinic on July 15.
“So far, 258 test samples taken in Kota Kinabalu found 18 positive. 54 samples were tested negative while 186 test samples are awaiting results.
“24 cases were recorded outside the State Capital – nine in Penampang, nine in Papar, three in Putatan and three in Ranau,” said Masidi, adding that there are 42 cumulative cases in this cluster to date.
Meanwhile, five localities will be placed under Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) from July 26 to Aug 8, namely Kg Telisai, Tungku in Lahad Datu, Kg Tungkang in Kudat, Kim Loong Housing Estate in Beluran, as well as Kg Lajau and Kg Kota Klias in Beaufort.
Existing EMCOs in seven localities will be lifted on July 25, namely QI Farm Membalua in Tawau, Kg Pikat, Bongawan in Papar, Kepayan Prison in KK, Kg Jawi-Jawi in Kota Belud as well as three KK localities (Kg Suang Parai, Taman Kingfisher Sulaman and Bandaran Berjaya).Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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