KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s surge to 3,376 Covid-19 new cases on Tuesday (Aug 24), up from 2,474 cases the day before, was largely due to backlog cases, says Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.

       The state Covid-19 spokesman said 63.1% or 2,113 cases out of Tuesday's tally were backlog cases.

       He said the backlog cases were broken down as follows: 38.1% (1,286 cases) were registered after being tested two or three days ago, 12.3% (414 cases) were tested four or five days ago and 12.7% (430 cases) were tested over five days ago.

       “Kota Kinabalu remains the district with the highest number of cases, registering 741 cases compared with 671 cases from the day before.

       “Tuaran also saw a jump to 438 infections from 176 previously,” he said in the daily Covid-19 statement.

       State Health director Dr Rose Nani Mudin said the backlog of cases occurred as infections are climbing in Sabah, thus contract tracing and symptomatic screening activities also increased.

       “So this created a burden on laboratories processing the test samples, thus the backlog.

       “However, as I mentioned yesterday, we have taken remedial steps, including outsourcing the testing to private clinics since early August.

       “We also increased personnel working at the labs, as well as extending the working hours of those already on duty,” she said.

       She added that the test capacity was also increased by fixing more equipment in the labs.

       “But prevention and control is still being done even though test results have not been obtained.

       "Our officers on the field have isolated the close contacts, asking those with mild symptoms to be quarantined at home for 10 days, and will check on their progress daily.

       “Those who develop serious conditions will be admitted into the hospital,” she said.

       Dr Rose Nani had said on Monday (Aug 23) that she expects the backlog issue to be remedied in two to three days.

       Earlier on Tuesday, Opposition leaders raised concerns that health facilities state-wide would not be able to cope with the rising number of infections and urged the immunisation process to be sped up.

       Masidi said as of Monday, 53.3% of the targeted adult population in Sabah received their first dose, while 31.4% had been fully inoculated.