Index case in Lahad Datu infected when attending church

 

The index case for the Belacon cluster in Lahad Datu is believed to be infected with Covid-19 from another person while attending church. - KHIS/AZRUL EDHAM MOHD AMINUDDIN

LAHAD DATU: The index case for the Belacon cluster in Lahad Datu is believed to be infected with Covid-19 from another person while attending church.

Sabah Covid-19 spokesman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said the symptomatic index case, who is a 22-year-old man, tested positive for the virus at a clinic on March 31.

He added the man may have contracted the virus from a 54-year-old man from Tawau who was on duty at the church.

"The Belacon cluster has 17 cumulative cases after screening was done on 195 close contacts and church members. However, there are still 42 cases awaiting their results.

"All positive cases in Lahad Datu have been referred to the district hospital and low-risk treatment centres for treatment while close contacts are being told to undergo quarantine at PPR Sri Sepagaya here," he said in a statement.

Masidi reminded hosts to follow the standard operating procedures while organising personal events.

The public should also register their social events via the Sabah Trace web application at https://sabahtrace.my so that it would be easy for the authorities to monitor the situation.

Another locality placed under Enhanced Movement Control is Kampung Murni C in Nabawan where six positive cases were recorded. The restriction will take effect from tomorrow until April 20.

As for Keningau and Tawau districts which are under Movement Control Order, the Sabah government forbids people except those in essential services from entering the places either by road or air.

"This is to prevent Covid-19 cases from spreading to other states, districts or other localities.

"As for the essential services, only 30 per cent workers from the managerial group are allowed while the presence of workers from the support group has to be according to workplace protocols," he said, adding that civil servants are also not allowed to go in and out from Tawau.

Today, Sabah recorded 112 new Covid-19 cases with one death each in Tawau, Tenom and Putatan. - NST