New cluster emerges; Sabah updates SOPs for some economic sectors

 

- NSTP file pic

KOTA KINABALU: A security guard has sparked a new cluster in Sabah, believed to be caused by sports activities.

Sabah Covid-19 spokesman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said the Cenderawasih cluster in Lahad Datu involved infection in the workplace and had recorded eight positive cases so far.

"The 39-year-old man who had symptoms beginning on Aug 7 was confirmed positive by Tungku Health Clinic on Aug 11.

"The cause of the infection is still under investigation. However, based on preliminary investigations; all the close contacts had engaged in sports activities together with the index case.

"Out of 35 contacts screened, seven were positive while 27 are still awaiting results. All the positive patients were referred to Lahad Datu Hospital for further treatment and isolation at Covid-19 Quarantine and Low-Risk Treatment Centre in Lahad Datu.

"Other close contacts have been directed to undergo quarantine at the People's Housing Project (PPR) Sri Sapagaya quarantine centre, Lahad Datu," he said in a statement.

Today, Sabah recorded 1,728 new infections with 15 fatalities – five each in Kota Kinabalu and Tawau, and one each in Sandakan, Penampang, Keningau, Tuaran and Sipitang.

Masidi said close contact screenings remained the main contributor to the daily cases with 955 infections or 55.26 per cent of the total, followed by 461 cases (26.68 per cent) from symptomatic screenings, 159 (9.20 per cent) from another category, 141 cases (8.15 per cent) from clusters, and 12 cases (0.69 per cent) targeted screening.

Kota Kinabalu recorded a high percentage of patients who fell under the symptomatic category with 43.2 per cent followed by 38.4 per cent in Penampang, 30 per cent in Tawau and 22.2 per cent in Sandakan.

Masidi said 366 of the new Covid-19 patients (21.2 per cent) were in Category 1, 763 cases (44.2 per cent) in Category 2, 10 patients in Category 3 and one each in Category 4 and 5, whereas 587 patients (34 per cent) were still pending investigation.

As of Aug 15, he said, 46.2 per cent of the adult population in Sabah have received their first dose of vaccine and 22.7 per cent have completed two doses.

The Sabah government has also issued updated Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for several sectors and sub-sectors in the state.

Under the latest guidelines for Phase Two of the National Recovery Plan (NRP), 13 economic sectors such as sports equipment store, clothing, fashion and accessory store, jewellery store, photography equipment and service store, and handicraft shop were allowed to operate from 6am to 8pm.

"All these sub-sectors can operate as usual provided customers and employees have at least one dose of vaccine and they must be fully vaccinated within the given period until Sept 15," he said.

Masidi added that operations for the construction, manufacturing, mining and quarrying sectors are based on vaccination rates.

Those sectors that had achieved 80 per cent to 100 per cent of vaccinations can operate with full capacity, while vaccination rates between 60 per cent to 79 per cent, only allowed to operate at 80 per cent of their capacity. - NST