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PETALING JAYA: Another Covid-19 cluster was discovered in Sabah, as yesterday the number of new infections across the country rose to 82.
This is the seventh group to emerge in the state amid the campaign for crucial state elections this Saturday.
Director General of Health Tan Sri Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah (pix) said at a press conference yesterday that the new cluster, called Bangau-Bangau, was reported in Semporna.
He said a screening exercise that began Monday has already discovered five positive cases in the area. Another 92 people who were also tested are still waiting for their test results.
Noor Hisham said that of the five new cases in the Bangau-Bangau group, four are Malaysians and one foreign.
He said all five have been admitted to Semporna Hospital for treatment.
“Preventive measures are being taken at the hospital, including disinfection and cleaning.”
In other parts of Sabah, new infections have been found in three other groups: Benteng LD, Pulau and Selamat.
The Benteng LD cluster recorded 41 additional cases as of noon yesterday. This brings the total number of Covid-19 cases in the cluster to 624.
Noor Hisham said that a total of 10,045 people at Benteng LD have been tested and 2,822 are still awaiting their test results.
Six new cases each have also been reported in the Pulau and Selamat groups.
In Kedah, there were nine new cases from Sungai’s group, bringing the total number of active cases to 83. The new infections bring the number of active cases to 665 from 583 a day earlier.
Nine patients are still in intensive care, and two require respiratory assistance.
The death toll remains at 130.
The rise in Covid-19 infection has also prompted Sabah’s Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal to suggest that the Election Commission (EC) provide enough space at the polls on Saturday to ensure that social distancing is possible. He wants the EC to introduce a set of standard operating procedures that allow Covid-19 patients to cast their votes.
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