KOTA KINABALU: Community spread remains a key concern for the authorities in Sabah as the state recorded 2, 594 new Covid-19 cases after two days of declining numbers.

       State Covid-19 spokesman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun (pic) said that though 1,573 (60.6%) of the new cases were from direct contacts, the number of cases from community spread was rising with 787 (29.4%) detected from symptomatic screening.

       "Sporadic spread is a real concern as it is difficult to pinpoint its origins as the virus is already within the community," he said.

       Masidi reiterated that the public must strictly observe the standard operating procedures (SOPs) in place in efforts to help bring down the Covid-19 spread in the state.

       These include avoiding crowded places, social gatherings of all kinds as well as staying home and only going out when necessary.

       "Sporadic cases are linked to a failure in following the SOPs strictly," he stressed.

       He said it was evident that in terms of detection of sporadic cases in Sabah, new positive cases in Tawau accounted for 44.6%, Penampang (41.4%), Putatan (38.5%) and Kota Kinabalu (31.9%).

       On the overall case figures for Tuesday (Aug 31), he said there was a sharp increase in new cases in Papar from 49 to 264 cases on Tuesday.

       Other places showing increases were Sandakan (68 cases) Putatan (37 cases) as well as Penampang and Kota Kinabalu increasing with 31 new cases each.

       However, Tuaran, Kota Belud and Kinabatangan saw cases decline on Tuesday.

       Masidi assured that vaccination efforts were continuing and should be reaching 40% of the adult population receiving both doses soon.

       As of 3pm Tuesday, he said 39% of the adult population have completed their double doses while 58.4% have received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.