KOTA KINABALU: Sabah recorded a slight drop in Covid-19 numbers at 4,794 cases with three new clusters detected on Thursday (Feb 17).

       Minister in charge of Covid-19 matters in the state, Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said this saw a drop of 288 cases from Wednesday’s 5,082 cases.

       Of all the cases today, more than 64% or 3,076 were sporadic, he said.

       Masidi said all three new clusters were education related. They are the Batu Enam cluster in Kota Belud with 19 cases, Jalan Sugut Ranau cluster (49), and Kemburongoh 2, Ranau (54).

       Masidi said for the Batu Enam cluster, the case index involved a 15-year-old female hostel student from SMK Taun Gusi 2.

       She started showing symptoms on Feb 9 and tested positive for Covid-19 on Feb 10, he said.

       He said for the Jalan Sugut Ranau cluster at SMK Ulu Sugut, a 39-year-old female teacher was the first to be detected on Feb 7.

       “As for the Kemburongoh 2 cluster at SMK Kemburongoh, the case index is a 52-year-old male security guard of the school,” Masidi said.

       He said the security guard tested positive on Feb 7 following a symptomatic screening test.

       All these patients and their close contacts who were tested positive have been isolated and given the necessary medical treatment, he said, adding that all of them only suffered mild symptoms.

       Meanwhile, a total of 13 districts record three-digit new cases with Kota Kinabalu at the top with 904 cases, Penampang at 513 cases, Sandakan (459), Tuaran (444), Papar (347), Tawau (273), Lahad Datu (242), Beaufort (203), Ranau (195), Kota Belud (156), Kota Marudu (149), Keningau (136) and Putatan (128).

       Masidi said over 99% or 4,773 out of Thursday's new Covid-19 cases are those under Category 1 and 2.

       “Eleven people have been categorised under stage three, while nine under stage four and one under stage five,” he added.