A 51-year-old Miri man with a double kidney failure is the latest person to die from Covid-19 in Sarawak.

The state disaster management committee, in announcing the state’s 22nd death from the pandemic, stated the man died at 4.50pm yesterday.

The committee said the man was rushed to Miri Hospital from a private clinic after experiencing breathing difficulties, on Monday.

There have been 132 cases reported in the state in the past 24 hours, with the Pasai cluster in Sibu continuing to lead the way with 88 cases.

Of the 62 new infections detected in Sibu, 35 were from the Pasai cluster.

The 46 new cases detected in Kanowit, 60km from Sibu, were all linked to the cluster.

Four of Miri’s five cases detected today were also from the cluster, as were single cases Dalat and Selangau respectively.

The cluster stemmed from an infected woman who had returned from Johor and had attended a three-day funeral in a longhouse on the outskirt of Sibu, from December 29.

To date more than 8,000 people in the cluster have been screened with 982 testing positive.

The number could rise as 1,768 people are still waiting for their result, the disaster committee said.

Sarawak currently has eight active clusters: Rakut in Miri, with 28 positive cases; Jelita and Bah Sayap, both also in Miri; Bukit Sekubong in Sebauh; Keranji Tabuan in Kuching; Mador in Meradong and Pasai. – January 21, 2021.