KUCHING: Sarawak on Sunday (Aug 22) registered 1,772 new Covid-19 cases, a slight drop compared to 1,964 new cases recorded the day before.

The State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) said 725 of the new cases were detected in this district, followed by 242 in Samarahan, 167 in Bau and 129 in Lundu.

“The rest of the new cases were reported in Serian with 99 cases, Belaga (82), Tatau (58), Sibu (46), Bintulu (39), Mukah (36), Asajaya (20), Pusa (17), Simunjan (16), Miri (14), Tebedu (14) and Dalat (10).

“Meanwhile, only single-digit number of cases were reported in Sri Aman, Subis, Saratok, Lawas, Selangau, Song, Kapit, Lubok Antu, Kanowit, Daro, Betong, limbang, Beluru, Matu and Sebauh,” said SDMC in its daily statement.

SDMC said 1,078 of the total cases consist of individuals who were close contacts to Covid-19 positive cases.

“There are also 221 cases involving individuals in existing clusters, 221 cases from screening of symptomatic individuals in health facilities, 247 cases from other screening in health facilities, four cases from individuals returning from Sabah and one case involving individuals returning to the state from abroad,” it said.

SDMC added that there are currently 15,092 active cases in Sarawak after 620 patients had completed their treatments and were discharged from hospitals statewide.

The committee added that a 75-year-old man from Lubok Antu also succumbed to the virus, bringing the state’s death toll to 498.

“The victim tested positive on August 20 and had a history of high blood pressure, cancer and heart disease,” it added.