KOTA KINABALU: Sabahans are reminded to avoid crowded places and to strictly abide by the standard operating procedure (SOP) following a high number of symptomatic Covid-19 cases daily.

       Minister overseeing Covid-19 matters Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said there were 2,969 cases on Thursday (Feb 10) with four new clusters detected.

       He said symptomatic cases stood at over 56% or 1,673 out of the total 2,969 cases - in almost all the districts in Sabah.

       "The public should avoid crowded areas and to strictly maintain a high level of SOP compliance at all times," he said.

       Masidi said symptomatic cases resulted in faster and wider spread of Covid-19.

       He said Kota Kinabalu recorded the most cases at 565, followed by Penampang (346), Sandakan (327), Tuaran (248), Papar (241), Tawau (181), Lahad Datu (151) and Ranau (121).

       Eighteen other districts recorded double digits while only Kalabakan has the least with six cases.

       The four new clusters are Madai 2 in Kunak (40 cases), Jalan Getah in Kunak (22 cases), Jalan Gudon in Kota Kinabalu (22) and Sutera 2 Kota Kinabalu (58).

       Three of these clusters were linked to education.

       Masidi said the case index for Madai 2 cluster involved a 13-year-old student in SMK Madai.

       As for Jalan Getah cluster, the case index is a student residing at the SMK Kunak hostel.

       A 17-year-old student in SMK Bandaraya, Kota Kinabalu, sparked the new cluster in Jalan Gudon.

       Sutera 2 was a workplace cluster linked to a 33-year-old construction site manager.

       All the four patients have minor symptoms and have been isolated and given the necessary medical attention.

       Over 99% of the overall new cases (2,953 people) have minor symptoms.