Lack of SOP compliance sparks new cluster in Sabah

 

The emergence of a new Covid-19 cluster in Sabah, the Sawit Lung cluster, is due to non-compliance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) at the workplace. - NSTP file pic

KOTA KINABALU: The emergence of a new Covid-19 cluster in Sabah, the Sawit Lung cluster, is due to non-compliance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) at the workplace.

Sabah Covid-19 spokesman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said the symptomatic index case was a 35-year-old non-Malaysian who tested positive after he underwent screening for plantation admission purposes on July 14.

"On the same day, three more positive cases were detected involving the same epidemiology in the workplace.

"Out of 40 contacts screened, 11 were positive involving colleagues and family members, thus, bringing the cumulative cases to 15," he said in his daily statement.

Another new cluster detected dubbed Industri KKIP Selatan Kota Kinabalu cluster took place at a plastic factory.

"The index case was an operator of the factory who confirmed positive for Covid-19 at Family Care Clinic in Sepanggar on July 12, after he had symptoms since July 9.

"The 20-year-old man was admitted to a Low-risk Treatment Centres (PKRC) for further treatment. Of the 45 close contact screenings in Kota Kinabalu, eight were found positive.

"Another four detected positive were recorded in Tuaran district, bringing the cumulative cases to 12," he said, adding that 32 samples were negative while five were still waiting for the results.

Today, Sabah recorded 474 new cases, down by 183 compared to 657 cases, yesterday. One death was recorded in Beaufort.

Masidi said the decrease was largely influenced by the absence of new positive cases from the prison cluster, except eight cases from Tawau prison.

"The two new clusters - Sawit Lung and Industri KKIP Selatan only contributed 3.6 per cent of today's cases while the existing cluster contributed 65 cases or 13.7 per cent."

Masidi also said there were no more Covid-19 green zones in Sabah as Tambunan district lost its green status today.

"Now Sabah has 18 red zones, three orange zones, and six yellow zones."

Masidi added that 37 compounds were issued to individuals across the state for various Covid-19 SOP violations and Sabah recorded an overall SOP compliance rate of 95.4 per cent. - NST