16 new COVID-19 cases in Sarawak today, 12 Baki Cluster cases

KUALA LUMPUR: Sarawak today recorded an increase of 16 more positive COVID-19 cases. This brings the total number of cases recorded in the state to 819 cases since the first case was detected on March 13.

Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee (JPBN) chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas informed that the Baki Cluster recorded the highest COVID-19 positive cases with 12 cases.

"These cases underwent screening on 24 October 2020 and the results of the COVID-19 rT-PCR test on 25 October2020 found them positive for COVID-19." Uggah said in the daily press conference of JPBN Sarawak, in Kuching.

He added that all cases were a close contact to the Baki Cluster index case.

"These cases range in age from seven to 75 years.

"Three are primary school students, two are high school students, five are adults and two are senior citizens," Uggah explained.

Of these 12 cases, only one had signs and symptoms.

All cases have been admitted to the isolation ward of Sarawak General Hospital for further treatment.

For the record, 845 individuals were screened during active tracking activities conducted by the Sarawak State Health Department in Kampung Haji Baki on 25 October 2020.

So far, 25 individuals have been confirmed positive, 744 negative and 101 individuals screened were still waiting for laboratory test results.

Meanwhile, three more new cases were detected through close contact screening to the 798th case which was reported on 26 October 2020.

All three cases were found positive after being screened at a private health facility here on October 26 and confirmed positive on the same day.

Uggah said these cases had no history of travel to areas at risk of COVID-19 infection.

"Until the cause of infection is known, these cases will be categorized as local infection cases based on the early history of case movements," he said.

Meanwhile, another case was detected through active tracking activities carried out by the Sarawak State Health Department on 25 October.

The case is of a local man doing business in one of the leading business areas in Kuching.

"The case has been screened on October 25, 2020.

"The results of the rT-PCR test on October 26, 2020 found that the case is positive for COVID-19," he added.

The case also had no history of travel to areas at risk of COVID-19 infection and had no contact with positive COVID-19 cases.