THE Kuching church cluster, detected on March 15, has been declared Covid-19-free, director-general of health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said in a statement today. 

The cluster, which was among the earliest to be detected in Malaysia, saw the screening of 2,751 people, of which 191 were found to be infected.

Three deaths were reported within the cluster, with 12 patients warded at intensive care units (ICUs), said Noor Hisham.

The first Malaysian to die from Covid-19 on March 17 was from the cluster. The victim was a 60-year-old pastor from a church in Kuching.

The other two deaths were the country’s 37th and the 67th deaths from the coronavirus. 

“This cluster involved five generations from various places in Sarawak,” said Noor Hisham. 

“Currently, the cluster has come to an end. The Ministry of Health wishes to thank the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee as well as all the various officers who have served in various activities to contain the cluster.”

The current toll remains at 121, with no deaths reported today. – June 23, 2020.