KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s Covid-19 numbers are seeing a downward trend for now, but could go up again as many backlog cases have yet to be processed, says Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.

       The minister in charge of Covid-19 matters in Sabah said the state recorded a total of 2,874 new cases with one new workplace cluster reported on Sunday (Feb 27), a drop of under 3,000 cases for the first time since Feb 10.

       “However, this trend might not last because there are a lot of backlog cases waiting to be processed,” he said, adding that sporadic cases (58%) still make up most of these cases.

       The new workplace cluster called the Tolokoson Kem Dua cluster in Tenom district, involves a total of 138 cases at its construction site.

       Masidi said the index case involved a 59-year-old foreign worker at Sino Hydro Kem Dua Tolokoson, who tested positive on Feb 19.

       All the affected people have been isolated, given the necessary treatment and instructed to undergo self-quarantine.

       Meanwhile, a total of 2,859 or 99.47% out of Sunday’s new cases are under Categories 1 and 2, while six are under Category 3, seven under Category 4 and two under Category 5, he said.

       Masidi said a total of 353 of the overall cases were children between the ages of five and 11, out of which 171 are those below five years of age.

       He said by districts, Kota Kinabalu tops the chart at 775 cases, followed by Tuaran at 324 cases, Penampang (272), Putatan (210), Tenom (160), Papar (151), Kota Belud (131), Tawau at 127 cases and Keningau at 120 cases.

       “The state has also administered immunisations for a total of 42,823 children between the ages of five and 11 so far,” he said.