TWO longhouses in Lubok Antu, Sri Aman, about 180km from Kuching, were put in lockdown for 14 days after inhave been placed under an immediate 14-day lockdown after two Covid-19 cases were detected in the rural district in the last 24 hours.

The two were among today’s 14 new cases in Sarawak, compared to five new cases yesterday.

Until today, the state’s rural areas have remained green, the code for infection-free.

State disaster management committee chairman Deputy Chief Minister Douglas Uggah the locking down of Rumah Sg Putong in Ulu Undop and Rumah Bui Panjai in Lubok Antu was to enable contact tracing.

The Rumah Sg Putong resident was screened for the coronavirus when he sought treatment for a persistent cough at the Sri Aman clinic yesterday.

He was reported to have had the cough for two weeks. While awaiting the test results, he was sent home. On the way home, he stopped at Rumah Bui Panjai for a visit.

Police have cordoned off the longhouses and welfare officers will supply food to the people who have been confined to their homes.

The two victims have been sent to the Sarawak general hospital for isolation and treatment.

Uggah said health authorities have yet to determine the source of the two infections.

The state Health Department today announced a new cluster, called Keranji Tabuan, in Kuching.

Six cases linked to the cluster have been detected, including the index case who was found positive on Tuesday.

Uggah said 54 people have so far been screened in connection with the cluster. Six have been cleared of infection and the rest are awaiting their test results.
 
The state is now home to four active clusters. The three others are the Stutong cluster in Kuching, Bah Sayap in Miri, and Mador in Meradong in central Sarawak.

No new cases were reported today in the Stutong and Mador clusters. 

The Bah Sayap cluster logged one today, to make it six. Health authorities have screened 71 people linked to the cluster, clearing 42 of them. The rest are awaiting their test results. – January 7, 2021.