BY TANIA LAM & NUR ASHIKIN LOUIS
KUCHING: Sarawak recorded 199 positive cases today, bringing the tally to 7,624.
The state also recorded two more deaths, bringing the total number so far to 69.
The state then identified two new clusters — Jalan Green Cluster in Kuching and Kejatau Cluster in Sri Aman.
The latest cases consist of 126 in Sibu, Kapit (15), Sri Aman and Bintulu — 13 each, Kuching (seven), Miri (six), Dalat and Kanowit — five each, Meradong (four), Subis (two), while Samarahan, Serian and Beluru recorded one case each.
The first fatality was a 59-year old local man who was referred to Sibu Hospital after he had fever, cough and breathing difficulty.
He was found positive for the virus on Feb 16 and was pronounced dead on Feb 18.
The second victim was a 83-year old local woman who was admitted to the Sibu Hospital, also after having breathing difficulty. She was pronounced dead on Feb 19.
On the new Jalan Green Cluster in Kuching the index cases were detained by the police on Feb 14. Contact tracing after than led to the discovery of four new cases.
As of 12pm on Feb 19, a total of 148 individuals were screened, with six positive cases including index case, 30 negative and 112 awaiting test results.
The other new cluster in Sri Aman identified as Kejatau Cluster involved a workplace at Wisma Persekutuan Fasa 2, Jalan Kejatau. The index case was a local 27-year-old man detected at Sri Aman Health Clinic.
As of 12pm on Feb 19, 92 persons were screened, with seven positive cases including the index case, six negative and 79 awaiting test results.
With the two additional clusters, there are now 24 active clusters in the state — Jan Yong and Gelong in Kapit; Geronggang, Mas Merah and Pasai in Sibu with an addition of a sub cluster called Tangap in Subis; Univista in Samarahan; Kampung Sungai Maong, Indah Riang, Stutong and Jalan Green in Kuching; Kidurong Dua and Jun Heng in Bintulu; Nanga Lijan in Julau; Seruas in Beluru; Sebangkoi and Kejatau in Sri Aman; Bintang Daily in Meradong; Jalan Pengiran in Matu; Tabong in Bau; Bedayan in Serian; Rakut, Jelita and Bah Sayap in Miri; and Bukit Sekubong in Sebauh.
Uggah also said 121 cases had recovered and were discharged from hospitals today — 73 in Sibu Hospital, 17 at PKRC under Kapit Hospital, 13 at Sarawak General Hospital (SGH), 10 at Miri Hospital, and four each at Sarikei Hospital and Bintulu Hospital.
“These bring the total number of recovered and discharged cases to 5,479 or 71.87 percent of total in Sarawak,” he said.
It was also reported that on the same day there were 2,047 persons who still undergo treatment at hospital isolation wards in the state — 1,136 in Sibu Hospital, Miri Hospital (309), PKRC under Kapit Hospital (198), SGH (171), Bintulu Hospital (162), Sarikei Hospital (55), PKRC Sri Aman (14), Limbang Hospital (one), and PKRC Lawas (one).
The state also recorded 238 new persons-under-investigation (PUI) while eleven are still awaiting laboratory results.
As for zone status, Sarikei district changed from yellow to green today after reporting no new local infections in the last 14 days.
Meanwhile, Kuching, Samarahan, Julau, Subis, Beluru, Kapit, Song, Dalat, Bintulu, Kanowit, Miri and Sibu districts remain red with a total of 2,170 cases of local infections reported in the last 14 days.
Lundu district is orange with 28 cases of local infectiosn reported in the same period.
The districts of Sri Aman, Bau, Matu, Selangau, Betong, Saratok, Sebauh, Lawas, Bukit Mabong, Tatau, Pakan, Serian, Belaga and Meradong remain yellow with a total of 98 local infections reported in the last 14 days.
Twelve other districts are green.
