KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s Covid-19 cases continue to rise, with 2,738 new infections and 17 deaths recorded on Friday (Aug 20).

       Minister in charge of Covid-19 matters in the state, Datuk Masidi Manjun said over 59% of these cases are due to close contact screenings from existing cases, while quite a number are also backlog cases.

       He said Kota Kinabalu remained the district with the highest number of Covid-19 cases at 454 followed by Penampang (328), Sandakan (236), Tuaran (235), Tawau (225), Sipitang (181), Papar (138) and Putatan (104).

       One new cluster was recorded as well in Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu - Kluster Sawit Sukau - with 30 new cases.

       On vaccination, he said more than 50% of adults in Sabah have received their first dose of the vaccine against Covid-19 while just over 26% have received two full doses to date.

       As for Covid-19 patients, more than 58% or 1,601 are categorised under stage two while 39% or 1,073 are those in stage one.

       The rest are those suffering stage three symptoms and above.