KOTA KINABALU: Sabah breached the 4,000 Covid-19 cases threshold for the second time within three days as state authorities urge parents to vaccinate their children.

       Sabah Covid-19 spokesman Datuk Masidi Manjun said 4,035 new cases were reported yesterday as sporadic infections were the main cause of the increase in local cases.

       The state hit an all-time high of 4,107 cases on Saturday before dipping to 3,891 cases on Sunday.

       Masidi said the increases were reported in 12 districts.

       Kota Kinabalu saw the highest number with 910 cases, followed by Sandakan 496, Tuaran 388, Tawau 328, Penampang 325, Papar 263, Putatan 200, Lahad Datu 189 and Beaufort 134.

       Ranau reported 129 cases, Keningau 106 and Kota Belud 106.

       Masidi said the number of symptomatic cases resulting from sporadic infections was extremely high, 61.07% or 2,464 out of 4,035 cases.

       The high percentage of sporadic infections helped the virus spread more quickly and widely, resulting in a sharp spike in the number of cases, he said.

       Masidi is encouraging parents to get their children aged between five and 11 vaccinated, as only 9,686 (2.35%) out of 411,400 children eligible to be vaccinated in Sabah had received the vaccine as of Sunday.

       He said the vaccination of children was very low and parents should understand that Covid-19 infections were spreading to children under the age of 11 every day.

       “Today (yesterday), there were 272 new cases involving children aged five to 11 who should be eligible for the vaccine.

       “It is recommended that parents take the initiative to ensure their children are vaccinated, so they get maximum protection from Covid-19 infection,” he added.

       A total of 4,011 (99.41%) out of 4,035 cases yesterday were under Categories 1 and 2.

       There were seven cases in Category 3, 14 in Category 4 and three in Category 5, he said.