KUCHING, March 9, 2022 - The public’s fear that last month’s Citrawarna Keluarga Malaysia programme at the waterfront could lead to an outbreak of Covid-19 infections has now been confirmed.
According to Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) in a statement, the programme has triggered a cluster, aptly named Citrawarna cluster, where 21 individuals were tested positive for Covid-19.
The number of positive cases could be more, and according to SDMC, an estimated 50,000 people attended and participated in the programme, who included federal and state ministers.
With such a large number of people, it is almost impossible to comply with the standard operating procedures (SOPs), where social distancing was not possible.
It is reported that a few VVIPs in Sarawak were already tested positive, but no details are available if they are infected while attending the programme.
The Citrawarna cluster was triggered by an index case, a 45-year old local man who was tested positive for Covid-19.
He was screened on February 27 at a private hospital and was tested positive with Covid-19.
According to SDMC, another 32 other individuals were tested negative while the outcome on six other individuals are still pending.
Another 24 individuals, who have a history of attending the programme, were also reported to be Covid-19 positive.
SDMC has made an urgent appeal to individuals who attended the programme to self-monitor their health conditions and do their own screening.
On another matter, Sarawak registered 1,727 Covid-19 cases today, with Kuching contributing 584 of the total cases, followed by Miri with 281, Sibu 193, Bintulu 115 and Samarahan, 100 cases.
SDMC said out of 1,727 cases, 663 were in Category One and 1,051 in Category Two, 12 in Category Four and one, Category Five.
It said two individuals, a 72-year old man from Kapit, and a 60-year old woman from Mukah have died from Covid-19 infection.
It said they both health-related issues such as diabetes, kidney problems and high blood pressure.
