THE Health Ministry has discovered a new Covid-19 cluster of three infections, known as Bakau, in Semporna, Sabah, following the death of the index patient.

The index case of this new cluster was a 50-year-old Filipino woman who became the 129th person to succumb to the coronavirus on September 14.

The woman had sought treatment at a healthcare facility for cough and breathing difficulties and was referred to the Semporna Hospital. 

However, she did not go to the hospital despite the referral.

She was later taken to the Semporna Hospital in an unconscious state where she was pronounced dead on September 14.

“Two more positive cases were confirmed in the Bakau cluster following screenings of close contacts,” said director-general of health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah today.

One of them is a Malaysian while the other is a Filipino. The infection source is still being investigated, he said.

They have been admitted to the Tawau Hospital for treatment.

Health authorities have screened a total of 109 individuals as of noon today, where 106 are still waiting for their results.

Noor Hisham said the Semporna Hospital has been sanitised and disinfected.

Sabah accounted for eight of the 17 locally transmitted cases today.

In the past 24 hours, Malaysia recorded 20 new cases, along with 51 recoveries and one fatality. – September 19, 2020.