KOTA KINABALU: Funerals should only be restricted to burial event and no other side ceremonies to mitigate the spread of Covid-19.
Sabah Covid-19 spokesman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said whoever held any ceremony after the funeral, such as feasts and tahlil, would be subjected to legal action under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988.
"Community leaders, village heads and sub-district area heads are urged to remind residents in their respective areas whether they are Muslims or non-Muslims, to not to hold any ceremony after funerals.
"This is important to prevent the spread of infections that could trigger new clusters in the state, especially triggered by these ceremonies.
"People who disobey and violate the standard operating procedures by holding the social events will be subjected to legal action under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988," he said in a statement.
Today a new cluster was declared in Kota Belud, dubbed the Tampasuk cluster, which originated from a funeral gathering.
Masidi said the index case was a female bank cashier, 32, who was having symptoms of fever, body aches, sore throat, cold, and cough before being tested positive on July 29.
"She had infected her family, villagers, and other close contacts. Out of 159 samples, 29 were found positive, and all the patients were referred to hospital and public covid Quarantine and Low-risk Treatment Centres, for further treatment and isolation," he said.
Masidi said Sabah recorded 949 new infections and more than half of the cases were from close contact, at 570 cases or 60.06 per cent.
This was followed by 201 cases recorded from symptomatic screenings, 74 from clusters, 55 from other screenings and 49 from targeted screenings.
"Since symptomatic screening is showing high numbers, it is highly recommended that those who have symptoms like flu and cough, to immediately make a swab test to determine their health status.
"This action can prevent infecting others if found positive," he said, adding that symptomatic screening was from sporadic infection.
Kota Kinabalu topped the daily cases with 260 followed by Tawau (138), Tuaran (102), Beaufort (62), Penampang (58), Sandakan (48), Papar (37), Keningau (34), Kota Belud (32), Ranau (27), Kinabatangan (23), Kunak (20), Telupid (16), Putatan (14), Lahad Datu and Nabawan (12 each), Kudat (11), Semporna and Tenom (seven each), Sipitang and Pitas (five each), Beluran, Kota Marudu and Kuala Penyu (four each), Tongod and Kalabakan (three each) and Tambunan (one).
Sabah now has 24 red zones and three orange zones. There are no more yellow and green zones.
Six fatalities were recorded in the state – two each in Kota Kinabalu and Tawau, and one each in Papar and Sipitang.
Meanwhile, 245 Covid-19 patients had recovered and were discharged from hospitals today, taking the cumulative recoveries to 69,351.
"Some 413 Covid-19 patients were discharged while 4,508 patients are currently receiving treatment at hospitals and low risk treatment and quarantine centres," he said adding that 117 are in intensive care units, with 45 requiring ventilator support.