Close contacts contributed to highest ever new Covid-9 cases in Kedah

 

Kedah logged 2,733 new Covid-19 cases yesterday, the highest ever daily total recorded in the state since the pandemic outbreak almost two years ago. - NSTP/MOHD FADLI HAMZAH

ALOR SETAR: Kedah logged 2,733 new Covid-19 cases yesterday, the highest ever daily total recorded in the state since the pandemic outbreak almost two years ago.

It was established that the failure of Covid-19 close contacts to comply with the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) was the leading contributor to the spike in new cases.

Kedah Health director Dr Othman Warijo told The New Straits Times that based on yesterday's data, close contacts topped the number of positive cases with 985 infections or 36.04 per cent of the total 2,733 new cases.

This was followed by screening on symptomatic patients with 984 cases or 36 percent and self-test with 652 infections or 23.86 per cent.

"The data suggests that close contacts of Covid-19 positive cases failed to adhere to the SOPs," he said.

Dr Othman reminded the public that it was paramount to observe SOPs to curb virus transmissions among immediate family members and close contacts.

Based on data available on the Health Ministry's CovidNow portal, out of the 2,733 new cases reported in Kedah yesterday, domestic cases dominated with 2,722 infections followed by 11 imported one.

This brought the total number of active cases in the state to 16,475 of yesterday, with three more deaths reported, including one brought in dead case.

Of the total active cases, 95.3 per cent or 13,952 patients were placed under home surveillance with 389 or 2.7 per cent referred to Covid-19 Quarantine and Treatment Centres (PKRC).

Only 284 of active cases or 1.9 per cent required hospitalisation with nine patients placed in Intensive Care Units while six patients were ventilated.

Kedah recorded 64 deaths in the past two weeks bringing the total to 2,202 since the pandemic outbreak. - NST