Covid-19: 4 deaths, 296 new cases recorded in S’wak

KUCHING: Sarawak yesterday recorded four deaths from Covid-19 and 296 new positive cases, said the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC).

This brought the death toll to 124, and the cumulative total of positive cases to 19,558.

The 121st death involved a 48-year-old Sarawakian man who was referred to Kapit Hospital for symptoms of fever, cough and shortness of breath.

A rT-PCR test was performed and he tested positive for Covid-19 on April 5. His condition deteriorated and he was pronounced dead on April

5. The case had comorbidities of hypertension, gout, dyslipidaemia and stroke.

The 122nd death was a Sarawakian woman, 83, who was admitted to Sibu Hospital.

This patient experienced cough as well as difficulty in breathing, and tested positive for Covid-19 through the rT-PCR test made on March 30. Her condition deteriorated and she was pronounced dead on April

9. The case had comorbidities of high blood pressure, gout, dyslipidaemia and breast cancer.

The 123rd death involved a 72-year-old Sarawakian woman who was referred to Sibu Hospital, following symptoms of fever and cough, as well as needing respiratory assistance.

An rT-PCR test was performed and she tested positive for Covid-19 on April

2. Her condition deteriorated and she was pronounced dead on April 9. She had comorbidities of hypertension, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.

The 124th death involved a 72-year-old Sarawakian man from the Rajang Cluster. He was referred to Sibu Hospital following symptoms of fever and cough, as well as needing respiratory assistance.

An rT-PCR test was performed and he was found positive on March 12. His condition deteriorated and he was pronounced dead on April 9. He had comorbidities of hypertension, and dyslipidaemia.

As for the new cases for yesterday, SDMC said they were recorded in Bintulu District (101), Kuching (41), Miri (35), Sibu (32), Matu (26), Subis (nine), Serian (eight), Kanowit (seven), Sarikei (seven), Samarahan (seven), Julau (six), Meradong (five), Marudi (three), Tebedu (two), Bau (two), Kapit (two), Beluru (one), Saratok (one), and Sebauh (one).

“Of the 296 new cases reported, 60 showed signs and symptoms of Covid-19 infection during screening.

“A total of 216 cases comprised individuals who had been given quarantine orders at the designated quarantine centres.”

From the new cases, 190 cases were the results of screening individuals who had contact with positive cases, with 29 of them symptomatic.

Another 49 cases were from other screenings at healthcare centres. All of them were asymptomatic.

Meanwhile, 31 cases were from screening symptomatic individuals at healthcare centres.

A total of 26 cases were individuals screened from currently active infection clusters and they were all asymptomatic.

Meanwhile, SDMC said there were 381 cases of recovery and discharge for the day.

“These cases were from Quarantine and Low-Risk Treatment Centre (PKRC) in Semuja with 182 cases, Bintulu Hospital (57), Sibu Hospital (56), Miri Hospital (49), Sarawak General Hospital, or SGH (20), PKRC under Kapit Hospital (eight), Sarikei Hospital (three), PKRC under Sri Aman Hospital (two), PKRC in Betong (two), PKRC in Serian (one) and PKRC under Mukah Hospital (one).

“As of today (Saturday), 15,911 – or 81.35 per cent – of total cases have recovered and been discharged,” it said.

SDMC also said a total of 3,463 cases were still being treated at hospitals and various PKRCs across Sarawak.

Out of that, 759 were in Bintulu Hospital and PKRC in Bintulu, 687 in Sibu Hospital and PKRC in Sibu, 538 in Miri Hospital and PKRC in Miri, 428 in SGH and PKRC in Kuching, 363 in Sarikei Hospital and PKRC in Sarikei, 278 in PKRC Sri Aman Prison, 110 in Kapit Hospital and PKRC in Kapit, 95 in PKRC Mukah, 91 in PKRC Serian, 57 in Sri Aman Hospital and PKRC in Sri Aman, 36 in Betong Hospital and PKRC in Betong, 10 in Limbang Hospital, eight in PKRC Semuja Immigration Depo Serian, and three in PKRC Lawas.

There were 336 new personunder-investigation (PUI) cases reported yesterday, with six awaiting results. This brought the cumulative total of PUIs to 32,508 to date.

As for person-under-surveillance (PUS) cases, there were 506 individuals who had checked into the designated quarantine centres for their compulsory quarantine yesterday.

This brought the total of current PUS to 6,488 individuals at 94 hotels and non-hotel quarantine centres statewide.

To date, those who had completed their quarantine period numbered at 85,506.