963 new cases, four deaths

KUCHING: Sarawak today (Aug 15) registered 963 new Covid-19 cases; a substantial increase compared to 725 new cases recorded the day before.

The State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) said 510 or 53 percent of the new cases were reported in this district.

“This is the result of active case detections carried out by the Kuching Divisional Health Office among close contacts, as well as targeted screenings in enhanced movement control order (EMCO) areas and workplaces,” it said.

SDMC said the rest of the new cases were reported in Samarahan with 119 cases, followed by Serian with 103 and Betong with 44.

“There are also 33 new cases reported in Bau, Sibu (25), Sri Aman (22), (Bintulu (19), Simunjan (18), Mukah (12), Tebedu (12), Asajaya (10), Kabong (six), Tatau (six), Belaga (four), Meradong (four), Miri (three), Kanowit (three), two each in Lundu, Kapit and Song, and one each in Dalat, Sebauh and Telang Usan,” it added.

The committee said four deaths were also recorded on Sunday, bringing the death toll to 486.

It said the first death case was of an 80-year-old man from Simunjan who had a history of gout and chronic obstructive lung disease.

The second death case, said SDMC, involved an 83-year-old man from Serian who had anaemia.

“The third and fourth death cases were both registered in Kuching involving two women aged 71 and 72.

“The 71-year-old woman had a history of high blood pressure and diabetes while the 72-year-old had a history of high blood pressure and dyslipidaemia,” the committee explained.