THE Health Ministry has identified a new Covid-19 cluster in Kunak, Sabah, involving illegal immigrants. 

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said there are currently four positive cases in this cluster with 49 people – all Filipinos – screened to date.

The index case was a detainee at the Tawau Temporary Detention Centre (PTS) who was deported to Zamboanga, Philippines, on August 27.

“However, on September 5, the index case came into the country illegally to visit his wife.”

The wife tested positive for Covid-19 on September 8 during a screening after being referred from Kunak Hospital to Tawau Hospital, as she was having postpartum bleeding complications. 

The ministry is calling this cluster the Laut cluster.

As for the Lahad Datu cluster, 4,089 have been screened and 44 tested positive for the virus. 

“In Tawau, 2,847 people have been screened and 293 tested positive for the virus.”

He said out of the total 381 positive cases, 168 were Malaysians while the other 213 were foreigners. 

“A total of 149 cases involve Philippine nationals and 64 cases are Indonesian citizens.” 

Noor Hisham said that 8,258 people have been screened in the Sungai cluster.

“There are five new cases in the Sungai cluster. In Kedah, 55 tested positive for the virus. 

“In Perlis, 17 people have been screened and one tested positive.” – September 12, 2020.