Birthday party at state GOF HQ leads to new cluster in Sabah

 

-NSTP file pic, for illustration purpose only.

KOTA KINABALU: Two new Covid-19 clusters were detected in Sabah including one sparked by a birthday party.

Sabah Covid-19 spokesman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said the clusters were Persiaran Palma in Papar and Batu 24 Nabalu in Kota Belud.

The Persiaran Palma cluster involved the Sabah General Operations Force (GOF) headquarters, and the infection has spread to those who live in Tuaran and Penampang districts.

"The index case is a 38-year-old worker of Kinarut Papar PGA Camp who started experiencing symptoms on Jan 22 and was confirmed positive at the Papar Health Office.

"This cluster recorded 24 positive cases so far among colleagues and family. The cause of the infection is most likely due to a birthday party of one of the staff in the office on Jan 17," he said in a statement.

The Batu 24 Nabalu cluster involved students and teachers of SK Dallas and their family members in the Kota Kinabalu and Tuaran districts.

"The index patient is an aunt of one of the students. Close contact screening among other students and teachers found 22 more positive cases," he said, adding that this is the 11th education cluster in the state for this month.

Sabah recorded 358 new cases today and two deaths – one each in Keningau and Lahad Datu.

From the 358 total cases, 353 were under Categories 1 and 2, one case in Category 3, and two cases each in Category 4 and 5. - NST