SIBU (Bernama): There are no Covid-19 cases in Sibu linked to the Delta variant, says the Sibu Divisional Disaster Management Committee (SDDMC).

       It said the now-viral news claiming that the variant is present in the city is most likely due to the case of an Indonesian who tested positive for Covid-19 on July 7 and is currently being treated at the Sibu Hospital.

       The SDDMC said in a statement on Thursday (July 15) that a screening of the patient could not identify the variant and added that a sample was sent to Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) on July 12 for further testing.

       "According to UNIMAS, the process of detecting or identifying the variant is very complicated and will take one to two weeks,” said SDDMC.

       The SDDMC said contacts of the case had been screened and they were all found to be Covid-19 negative, but they were still being detained at the quarantine centre here.

       The committee called on all parties to not spread inaccurate information on the matter and to remain vigilant as well as to comply with the existing standard operating procedures as the Delta variant had been detected in the state. - Bernama