KOTA KINABALU: New Covid-19 cases involving sporadic infections are on the rise in Sabah, giving an indication that there is a lack in SOP adherence, says Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.

       The state Minister in charge of Covid-19 matters in Sabah said out of the newest 639 cases on Saturday (Oct 16), a total of 39% were sporadic cases.

       "The presence of sporadic cases means that there is a lack of adherence to SOPs," he said in his daily Covid-19 briefing here.

       He said the relaxation in more economic and social activities as the state prepared to move towards phase three of the national recovery plan (NRP) could mean that there would also be an increase in sporadic cases.

       "We hope the public would be more disciplined and be mindful of the SOPs, to help in breaking the chain of Covid-19 transmission," Masidi said.

       He said it takes cooperation from everyone to ensure that the state could smoothly transition into phase three of the NRP.

       "We are all frontliners in this sense," he added.

       Meanwhile, he said that vaccinations had helped reduce the severity of symptoms from Covid-19 infections, where out of Saturday’s latest cases, more than 85% of patients were those in Category Two.

       Category Two Covid-19 patients only suffered from mild symptoms such as cough, fever and flu.