THREE out of the six Covid-19 deaths reported in Sarawak today were declared dead on arrival (DOA), said the state disaster management committee.

Two were brought to Sarawak General Hospital in Kuching, while the third, from the former gold mining town of Bau, 24km from Kuching, was also declared DOA at Bau Hospital.

The deceased were men between the ages of 45 and 76.

The committee said the older of the two men in Kuching, a 68-year-old, tested positive for Covid-19 during post-mortem examination, after he was brought in last Sunday. He was diabetic.

The younger man, a 45-year-old, who had a long list of medical problems including hypertension, diabetes, and heart and kidney issues, similarly tested positive after he was brought in on Monday.

The patient from Bau, a 76-year-old, also tested positive when he was brought in on Monday.

The remaining three deaths reported are at SGH (two) and Mukah Hospital.

To date, 364 people in the state have died from Covid-19.

The state also recorded 570 new cases today.

The disaster committee also said 55.8% or 318 cases were detected in four districts: Kuching, Mukah, Sibu and Bintulu.

There were 98 cases recorded in Kuching, 92 in Mukah, Sibu 82 and Bintulu 46.

Bintulu’s cases were from the two of the three new clusters that were reported today: a workplace cluster on Jalan Tanjung Kidurong 3 originating from the workers’ quarters of a transport company.

Of the 102 workers screened, 33 were infected, while another 69 are still awaiting the result of their test, the disaster committee said.

The committee said those who tested positive in this cluster had flouted the standard operating procedure (SOP).

The dormitories have been locked down under the enhanced movement control order (EMCO).

Similarly, a longhouse on Jalan Bintulu-Tatau was also ordered to be locked down for two weeks after 24 residents tested positive due to their failure to observe social distancing, the committee said.

So far 151 people have been screened, with 45 people still waiting for their test results.

The committee also blamed failure to adhere to the funeral SOP for the third cluster reported in the Gran Stumbin area of Tanjung Bijat, Sri Aman.

Eighty-two people from several longhouses there are now infected. The disaster committee said 620 people were ordered to undergo the screening.

The number of cases could rise as 414 people have yet to receive their test results.

The 82 have been admitted to SGH, Sri Aman Hospital, and the Covid-19 quarantine and low-risk treatment centre in Sri Aman. – June 16, 2021.