KUCHING: Sarawak recorded two new positive Covid-19 cases in Miri today, bringing the total number of positive cases in the state to 1,117.
According to Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC), case 1,116 is a local man (non-Sarawakian) who works as an aircraft pilot at a regional airline operating rural air services (RAS) in Sabah, Labuan and Sarawak under essential services.
“The last time this case underwent screening was on Dec 14 where the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rT-PCR) test results came back negative.
“However, the case received a medical treatment and underwent screening on Dec 29 at a private hospital for having sore throat since Dec 28. The results came back positive on Dec 30,” it said.
Early investigation showed that the case has done an overnight flight, to and return to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah from Miri on Dec 21, 24 and 26 before experiencing the signs and symptoms of Covid-19 beginning Monday (Dec 28).
“The case has visited several food premises and shopping centres around Miri city on Dec 28, and flown from Miri to Lawas, Ba’ Kelalan and Bario.
“The case has also visited several food premises at Miri Airport and a restaurant in Miri city before being admitted to Miri Hospital for further treatment on the night of Dec 30,” SDMC added.
The case was categorised as an Import B — infected while in a high-risk area.
Meanwhile, case 1,117 is a local Sarawakian man who had just returned from Kuala Lumpur via Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on Dec 27.
The case previously worked as a technician in Johor since January last year (2020) before moving and working as a temporary security guard in Penang on Dec 21 to 24.
“On Dec 25, the case returned to Kuala Lumpur and spent the night at Tasik Bandar Selatan before returning to Miri on Dec 27.
“Upon arrival at Miri Airport, the case was admitted to the hotel quarantine centre to undergo a 10-day mandatory quarantine before continuing it at home for four days.
“The case underwent Covid-19 screening on Dec 29 and the rT-PCR test results came back positive on Dec 31,” SDMC said.
The case was also categorised as an Import B.
Both cases were admitted to Miri Hospital for further treatment. Contact tracing for both cases is underway.
SDMC also reported that there was one new recovered and discharged case, bringing its total number of cases to 1,069 or 95.70 percent.
As of today, 27 cases are still receiving treatment at hospitals — 11 at Sarawak General Hospital, Miri Hospital (seven), Bintulu Hospital (five) and Sibu Hospital (four).
On the other hand, eight new persons-under-investigation (PUI) cases were reported with none awaiting lab test results.
Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu and Lawas remain as yellow zones with a total of five cases of local infection reported in the last 14 days.
