Benteng LD outbreak slows, but Sabah still has most new Covid-19 cases

COVID-19 | Malaysia has reported 71 new cases of Covid-19 in the 24 hours up to noon today, of which two cases were imported while the remaining 69 are locally acquired infections.

Sabah again accounts for most of the local cases with 63 of the 69 new cases today, even though the Benteng LD cluster - which is now the second largest-ever Covid-19 cluster in Malaysia and has seen large increases in recent days - only recorded one case today.

However, there are still 1,754 individuals still waiting for test results in the Benteng LD cluster, out of 10,521 who had been tested. The number of cases in the Benteng LD cluster now stands at 730.

While the Benteng LD cluster appears to have slowed for today, other clusters in Sabah have seen double-digit growth in the number of cases.

The Bangau-Bangau cluster in Semporna has recorded 47 new cases today, bringing the total of 60 cases.

The cluster was first reported on Sept 22 following a pre-admission screening at Semporna Hospital, which had uncovered five cases of Covid-19.

Yesterday, eight new cases had been reported, and another two who previously tested positive on Sept 18 were identified as part of the cluster. In addition, five of yesterday’s cases are from the same village as the earlier cases.

In a statement today, Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said 105 people have been screened in the cluster so far.

As of noon today, 60 had tested positive, including the 47 new cases, while 45 are still pending results.

The Laut cluster in Kunak, meanwhile, reported 10 new cases, bringing the total to 22.

Noor Hisham said 488 have been tested in this cluster and 114 are still pending results.

[More to follow]

 - Mkini