A Covid-19 active case detection team carrying out fieldwork in Sibu recently.
KUCHING (April 19): Sarawak today recorded three deaths from Covid-19 along with 589 new cases, the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) said in a statement.
Today’s figures brought the death toll in the state to 140, and the cumulative number of positive cases to 24,529 cases.
The district that had the most cases today was Sibu with 133, followed by Bintulu (99), Mukah (82), Kapit (72), Kuching (44), Sarikei (31), Miri (30), Meradong (16), Tatau (16), Sri Aman (13), Selangau (11), Matu (8), Kanowit (6), Tanjung Manis (5), Bukit Mabong (4), Serian (4), Pakan (4), Samarahan (3), Subis (2), Dalat (2), Kabong (1), Song (1), Saratok (1) and Julau (1).
The committee said in its Covid-19 daily update that the 138th death involved a 78-year-old man who was referred to Bintulu Hospital from a private hospital after his RTK Antigen test returned positive on April 7.
His rT-PCR test also came back positive on April 8. His condition deteriorated and he was confirmed dead April 17. The case had comorbidities of hypertension and diabetes.
The 139th death was a 35-year-old man who was treated at Sibu Hospital for shortness of breath, and had suffered fever and cough a few days ago. His rT-PCR test returned positive on April 14 and he died on April 18.
The deceased also suffered from gout and obesity.
The 140th death involved a 72-year-old woman who had been treated at Miri Hospital for a bacterial infection on an ulcer wound in her sacral region.
Pre-surgery screening through RTK Antigen test was positive on April 12 and rT-PCR test was also found positive on April 13. Her condition deteriorated and she was confirmed dead on April 19. The case required assistance in activities of daily living (ADL dependent).
SDMC informed that as for the new cases, they were recorded in Sibu district (133), Bintulu (99), Mukah (82), Kapit (72), Kuching (44), Sarikei (31), Miri (30), Meradong (16), Tatau (16), Sri Aman (13), Selangau (11), Matu (8), Kanowit (6), Tanjung Manis (5), Bukit Mabong (4), Serian (4), Pakan (4), Samarahan (3), Subis (2), Dalat (2), Kabong (1), Song (1), Saratok (1) and Julau (1).
“Out of the 589 new cases reported, 88 had showed signs and experienced symptoms of Covid-19 infection during the screening.
“A total of 473 cases comprised individuals who have been given quarantine orders at designated quarantine centres,” it said.
From the new cases, 321 cases are results of screening individuals who had contact with positive cases, with 12 who are symptomatic.
A total of 152 cases are individuals screened from currently active infection clusters and 10 are symptomatic.
Meanwhile, 60 cases are from screening symptomatic individuals at healthcare centres.
Another 56 cases are from other screenings at healthcare centres, and six are asymptomatic.
SDMC said that there were 346 cases of recovery and discharge for the day.
“These cases were from Quarantine and Low-Risk Treatment Centre (PKRC) under Miri Hospital (87), PKRC under Bintulu Hospital (80), PKRC under Sibu Hospital (62), Sarawak General Hospital (46), Sarikei Hospital (26), PKRC Mukah (23), PKRC under Kapit Hospital (13), Limbang Hospital (3), PKRC Betong (3), PKRC Serian (2) and PKRC Lawas (1).
“As of today, 18,719 or 76.31 of total cases have recovered and discharged,” it said.
SDMC said that a total of 5,604 cases are still being treated at hospitals and various PKRC throughout the state.
There were 589 new Person-Under-Investigation (PUI) reported for the day, with 13 still awaiting results. This brought the cumulative total of PUIs to 37,688 to-date.
As for Person-Under-Surveillance (PUS), there were 631 individuals who have checked into designated quarantine centres for their compulsory quarantine today. This brings the total of current PUS to 7,202 individuals at 97 hotels and non-hotel quarantine centres state-wide.
To date, those who have completed their quarantine period numbered at 89,246.