Covid-19 Delta variant dominant in Sarawak

The Delta variant is currently the dominant circulating Covid-19 variant in Sarawak when 303 cases were detected from 307 cases undergoing genomic sequencing as of Aug 31, according to Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) Institute of Health and Community Medicine (IHCM) director Prof Dr David Perera.

He said the cases with this variant of concern (VOC) represented 99 percent of the cases undergoing genomic sequencing on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome - Coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV 2) that IHCM had carried out.

“This represents an increase from the 82 percent reported by IHCM on Aug 2 this year, thus, the data suggests that the Delta variant is currently the dominant circulating variant in Sarawak,” he said in his latest report to Sarawak Disaster Management Committee chairperson Amar Douglas Uggah today.

He said all the samples obtained by the institute from cases in Kuching, Serian, Samarahan, Sri Aman, Betong, Sarikei, Mukah and Limbang Divisions, as well as from Import A (persons from other countries entering Sarawak) carried the variant.

“The Sibu and Kapit Divisions (cases) on the other hand had registered 97 percent (with the variant) while the Bintulu Division with 98 percent detection rates,” he added.

- Bernama