KOTA KINABALU: Another new Covid-19 cluster involving an educational institution has been detected in Sabah as the state recorded 256 new cases.

       Sabah Covid-19 spokesperson Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun (pic) said the Pandan-Pandan cluster was detected involving staff, families and students of Madrasah Darul Hadis in Kampung Pandan-Pandan in Putatan.

       He said the cluster was triggered after the index case of a 53-year-old madrasah teacher was confirmed positive for Covid-19 after undergoing symptomatic screening.

       "He experienced coughing, fever and flu symptoms and underwent PCR screening on January 17 and was confirmed positive," he said.

       Masidi said screening on close contacts of family members, staff and students found that 15 more people had been infected.

       He said the recent increase in active clusters resulted in a spike in cases.

       A total of 86 new cases were from four active clusters with the highest number of 54 coming from a workplace cluster - Trayon River in Kinabatangan.

       This was followed by three clusters related to educational institutions - Pandan Pandan cluster, Putatan (14 cases), Jalan Pertukangan cluster, Sandakan and Puri Ranau cluster (nine cases each).

       “The emergence of clusters also affects the number of daily cases in these districts.

       "The number of cases in Kinabatangan soared to 55 cases from just one case due to the Trayon River cluster.

       “Infection in Putatan also increased to 21 cases as compared to five while in Ranau, it went up to 12 cases from six," he said.

       Masidi said children under the age of 12 who were tested positive for Covid-19 recorded a relatively high number at 38 people or about 15% of the total cases.