KUCHING: Six new clusters were declared by the State Health Department (JKNS) today, with three located in Kuching district and one each in the districts of Bau, Subis, and Bintulu.
The new clusters are called the Jalan Stampin Cluster, Jalan Keruing Cluster and Iris Garden Cluster in Kuching district; Kampung Serikin Cluster in Bau district; Sawai Niah Cluster in Subis district; and Jalan Kidurong Empat Cluster in Bintulu district.
Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) said the Jalan Stampin Cluster involves a care centre for the elderly at Jalan Stampin, Kuching.
“The cluster arose from close contacts among occupants of the centre,” the committee said in a statement today.
It said 46 people linked to this cluster had been screened, of which 18 including the index case tested positive, 22 tested negative, and six were still awaiting the results of the second screening.
Similarly, it said the Iris Garden Cluster also involves a care centre for the elderly, located at Iris Garden in Kuching. It also stemmed from close contacts among the centre’s occupants.
“A total of 31 individuals have been screened, whereby eight including the index case tested positive and 23 were found negative,” said the committee, adding that this cluster involved one death.
As for the Jalan Keruing Cluster, it said this is a workplace cluster involving a business premises at Jalan Keruing, Sejingkat in Kuching.
It said the infections stemmed from social movements and close contacts within the workplace and spreading among the index case’s family members and social contacts.
“A total of 28 individuals have been screened, whereby 11 including the index case tested positive, 14 tested negative, and three are still pending laboratory results,” said the statement.
For the three new clusters in Kuching, SDMC said all the positive cases were admitted into Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) and the Quarantine and Low-Risk Treatment Centre (PKRC) in Kuching for the purpose of isolation and further treatment.
On the Kampung Serikin Cluster, it pointed out this is a community cluster involving a locality placed under the enhanced movement control order (Emco) in Bau district.
“It resulted from social movements and close contacts among residents. A total of 70 individuals have been screened, whereby 19 including the index case tested positive, 34 tested negative, and 17 are still awaiting laboratory results,” SDMC said.
It added that all these positive cases were admitted into SGH and the PKRCs in Kuching and Bau districts.
As for the Sawai Niah Cluster, this is a workplace cluster detected at an oil palm mill under the enforcement of the Emco at Batu Niah, Subis district, the statement noted.
“It involves social interaction and close contacts among factory workers and family members living in the factory area,” said the committee.
It stated that 375 people linked to this cluster had been screened, of which 32 including the index case tested positive, 31 tested negative, and 312 were still pending laboratory results.
“All the positive cases were admitted into Miri Hospital and the PKRC in Miri district for the purpose of isolation and further treatment,” they said.
SDMC said the Jalan Kidurong Empat Cluster is a community cluster detected in a settlement placed under the Emco at Setinggan Sebatang Kelapa, Jalan Kidurong Empat in Bintulu district, involving social interaction and close contacts among residents there.
“A total of 43 individuals have been screened, whereby 18 including the index case tested positive and 25 are still awaiting laboratory results,” the committee said, adding that all these positive cases were admitted into Bintulu Hospital and the PKRC in Bintulu district.
On a lighter note, JKNS also declared the end of two clusters, namely the Bungey Cluster in Betong district and the Jalan Sawit Cluster in Sarikei, as no new cases involving these clusters had been reported within the last 28 days.
With that, SDMC said 92 active clusters remained in the state, of which 16 recorded a total of 96 additional cases today.
