KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 18 — Health authorities reported 90 new Covid-19 cases in Sabah today, including 76 from the Benteng LD cluster, while a new death was also reported in Sabah amid a state election.
Malaysia’s death toll due to Covid-19 increased to 129 cases when Patient 10,145, a 50-year-old Filipino woman, died on September 14, following which she was detected Covid-19 positive.
The patient suffered from cough and breathlessness on September 14 and sought medical attention at a medical centre. She was then referred to Semporna Hospital for further treatment, but did not go due to some constraints that were not specified by the Ministry of Health (MOH).
“She was found unconscious and was then brought to Semporna Hospital, Sabah, where she was confirmed to have passed away on September 14,” Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said in his statement reporting on Malaysia’s daily Covid-19 cases today.
MOH reported 90 new positive Covid-19 cases in Sabah today, comprising 76 cases from Benteng LD cluster, four cases from the Pulau cluster (three in Semporna and one in Kunak), as well as three cases from the Selamat cluster in Semporna.
Sabah’s new cases reported today also include three severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) cases in Lahad Datu Hospital, two cases during a symptomatic screening that were admitted to Tawau Hospital, Patient 10,145 who died in Semporna Hospital, and one close contact screening of Patient 10,145 who has been admitted in Tawau Hospital.
The coronavirus has spread to eight districts in Sabah, with Tawau and Lahad Datu classified red after recording more than 40 new local coronavirus cases in the past 14 days.
Out of the 7,814 individuals that have been screened from the Benteng LD cluster, a total of 550 positive Covid-19 cases have been detected across Lahad Datu, Tawau, and Sandakan. A total of 5,426 individuals have tested negative, while 1,838 individuals are still waiting for their results.
Individuals detected positive from this cluster involved prisoners and detainees (457 cases), Lahad Datu and Tawau police lockup staff (20 cases), family members of prisoners, staff, and detainees (23 cases), other government agency officers (one case), and 49 individuals through social contact.
One locally transmitted case was reported from the Bunga cluster in Negri Sembilan today, bringing the total number of positive Covid-19 cases from this cluster to 11 cases.
A total of 59 individuals, including 45 Malaysians and 14 foreigners from India (six individuals), the Philippines (six individuals), Singapore (one individual), and from Ghana (one individual), have been screened from the Bunga cluster. Eleven individuals have tested positive, while 48 individuals tested negative.
The four imported cases reported today involved three illegal immigrants from Indonesia (case reported in Selangor) and one crew member of a ship who returned from China (case reported in Sabah).
According to MOH, Malaysia has 95 new Covid-19 cases today, including 91 locally transmitted, bringing the total number of positive cases to 10,147 cases. Fourteen patients have recovered, bringing the cumulative number of recovered cases to 9,264 cases.
Malaysia’s current active Covid-19 cases total 754 cases, including 11 patients getting treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) with two patients on ventilator support.
MOH also informed the public that besides the pink bracelet, individuals under supervision like close contact cases, travellers under quarantine etc, may also use white, blue, red or yellow bracelets, which are subject to the stock availability in that area and determined by the district health officer.
The place and date of screening will be written on the bracelet and can only be cut by the district health officer involved, after the quarantine period expires.
MOH reminded the public to report to the police if there are individuals with quarantine bracelets seen in public places to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
