- Wartawan Nabalu News
COVID-19: SABAH RECORDS FOUR NEW WORKPLACE CLUSTERS
20 May 2021
By Wartawan Nabalu News
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has recorded four new clusters today involving workplaces at Sabindo factory, Karamunsing electrical shop, Hyatt Centric Hotel Kota Kinabalu. and Silimpopon Oil Palm Plantation.
Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said the clusters are known as Jalan Pengalat Lok Kawi Cluster in Papar, Lorong Karamunsing Cluster and Jalan Tun Fuad Cluster both in Kota Kinabalu, and Jalan Kretam Silimpopon Cluster in Kalabakan.
“The Jalan Pengalat Lok Kawi Cluster in Papar involves factory workers of the CCK Fresh Mart Sabindo.
"The index case is a male worker who works in the factory’s quality control unit (QC). He started having symptoms on May 10 before testing positive for Covid-19 on May 18.
"Following the incident, the employer conducted screening test on all its 69 workers and found 15 more positive cases, bringing the cumulative total of the cluster to 16 cases.
“Of the total, one case was registered in Kota Kinabalu while the other 15 cases in Papar. Close contact screening activities are still being conducted," he said in a press statement today.
Meanwhile, the Lorong Karamunsing Cluster in Kota Kinabalu also involves workers of an electronics store and the virus has spread to the second generation, their family members, as well as to nearby districts consisting of Putatan, Penampang and Tuaran.
According to Masidi, the index case of this cluster is a male technician who tested positive for Covid-19 after undergoing screening for fever and loss sense of smell at Permai Poliklinik Kota Kinabalu on May 9.
“Of the 89 samples taken through workplace screening, 28 people were found to have tested positive, including 10 new cases recorded on May 20, with nine cases in Kota Kinabalu and one in Putatan.
"However, 51 test samples came back negative and another 17 are still awaiting results," he said, adding that the cumulative number for the cluster is 28.
Another cluster in the state capital involves construction site workers at the Hyatt Centric Hotel Kota Kinabalu.
Masidi said infection in this cluster was first detected on May 15 when the index case, a 43-year-old male exhibited symptoms of fever and cough.
The man was warded in Queen Elizabeth Hospital after testing positive for Covid-19 through screening at the district Permai Polyclinic.
“A total of 641 samples were taken and 10 more individuals were found to have contracted the virus, bringing the cumulative total to 11 cases.
"Meanwhile, 359 individuals tested negative and another 275 samples are still pending results," he stated.
The fourth cluster is – Jalan Kretam Silimpopon Cluster in Kalabakan – was first recorded on May 14 at Tawau Hospital through symptomatic screening. The index case is a 33 -year-old man who works as a processing plant worker.
"Before being tested positive, the Index case started exhibiting symptoms of cough and fever on May 8. Close contact screening conducted on 142 people found 41 contacts tested positive, making the cumulative number to 42 cases.
"Meanwhile, another 76 samples came back negative and while 24 more are still pending results. Close contact screening is still being conducted and the cause of the infection is still under investigation.
"Based on the preliminary investigation, the index case is believed to have contracted the virus while attending a Mother's Day feast at the Silimpopon Joint Church located next to Jalan Kretam, Silimpopon in the estate," he added.
