ANOTHER 16 cases of the Covid-19 Delta variant of concern (VOC) have been detected in Sarawak, bringing the total to 17 since the first case was detected on June 18, the state disaster management committee said.

In his latest report to the committee chairman Douglas Uggah, director of the Institute of Health and Community Medicine (IHCM) at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) Dr David Perera said the figures were up to date as of July 4, while all the cases were detected in Kuching.

He only made public the first case, that of a 56-year-old man who had returned to Sarawak, categorised as Import B case, on July 8.

In his report today, Perera also stated there was one more new case of the Beta variant detected in Kuching, making it 35 cases in the state’s most populous district and 45 for the state.

Cases were also reported in the former gold mining town of Bau, Lundu, Serian, Simunjan and Sibu.

However, Perera said there were no further Theta or the Eta variants reported between June 27 and July 4.

There are still 13 Theta variant cases, six in Kuching and seven in neighbouring Kota Samarahan district.

With the latest Delta and Beta variant figures, the state now has a total of 76 VOC and variants of interest.

The Delta variant was first detected in India in 2020, while the Beta variant was first detected in South Africa and the Theta in the Philippines. – July 13, 2021.