KUALA LUMPUR, March 13 — Sarawak today recorded its first three cases of novel coronavirus, all linked to the mass religious gathering at the Sri Petaling Mosque in Kuala Lumpur, state officials confirmed.
This brings the total number of Covid-19 cases in Malaysia to at least 161.
Sarawak Disaster Management Committee chairman Amar Douglas Uggah said two of the three cases had attended the February 28 to March 1 tabligh event, while the third case was a family member, presumably related to one of the two cases.
“Therefore, we are appealing to all those (who attended) that gathering and who are in Sarawak to immediately contact the nearest hospitals for Covid-19 investigation,” the committee secretariat said in a statement.
Covid-19 designated hospitals in the state include Sarawak General Hospital, Sibu Hospital, Bintulu Hospital, and Miri Hospital, while quarantine centres have been set up in all three cities as well as Kuching.
The Sri Petaling Mosque cluster has spread to Brunei and Singapore, as well as Tawau in Sabah, Kuantan in Pahang, Johor, and Negri Sembilan, federal health officials previously said.
Meanwhile, Uggah, who is also Sarawak deputy chief minister, said the state health department has tracked 236 participants who attended the gathering and are in the state.
Samarahan has the most number of persons-under-investigation (PUI) and currently isolated at home (60), followed by Miri and Bintulu (29), Kuching (28), Sibu and Limbang (26), Mukah (15), Serian (nine), Betong (seven), Sarikei (three), and Kapit (one).
The state Disaster Management Committee also assured the public that the Sarawak Health department is prepared to face any eventuality arising from Covid-19.
