KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun says the large number of new Covid-19 cases in the state is due to the backlog in samples tested.
Sabah today recorded 702 new cases, its highest daily Covid-19 tally to date.
Masidi said that at the beginning of the month, there were 18,000 backlogged samples, of which 7,000 have been cleared.
"When this number is added to the new cases, it becomes exceptionally high," he told a press conference here today.
He added that they are still awaiting the results for 11,000 samples.
He said the Sabah Health Department, which is also collaborating with government and private laboratories in the peninsular, is now able to process an average of 6,000 samples a day.
Asked on whether the number of cases will reflect the real situation after a few days, Masidi, who is the official state government spokesperson for its Covid-19 matters, said the people have to be patient and give it some time.
He gave his assurance that despite having more than 4,000 active cases, Sabah is still able to cope as 22 venues are being converted into treatment centres for low-risk Covid-19 patients.
"This time, there is not much difference from the previous (government) except that there is no state Health Minister.
"Previously there was a Covid-19 command centre. It has since changed its name to the Disaster Management Committee but is still chaired by the state secretary, while the deputy is the state health director," said Masidi, adding that he also sits in on daily video conference calls with the National Security Council (NSC) for updates.
He also addressed reports of a shortage of personal protective equipment in several hospitals, saying that the Health Ministry will be mobilising the necessary items to meet demand.
On the state government's decision in allowing businesses to operate, Masidi said there should be balance between combating the infection and economic survival.
"For those earning a fixed income, they are still getting their salaries (despite the Conditional Movement Control Order) but it is different for daily earners. Therefore, it is important to have balance.
"People are still allowed to go out but they have to follow the standard operating procedures," he said.
To date, the state has distributed 55,884 food baskets to 11 districts affected by the CMCO.
Meanwhile, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, who was infected with Covid-19, has recovered and is expected to resume work next week. - NST
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