KOTA KINABALU: Sabah's Covid-19 situation continues to show a downward trend as the number of people receiving their vaccine shots increase.
Sabah Covid-19 spokesman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said today, Sabah recorded 872 new Covid-19 cases, a decrease of 121 cases compared to yesterday.
He said backlogged cases had also dropped, with only two backlogged cases from five days ago, 30 cases from four to five days ago, and 343 cases registered two to three days late.
"The number of Category 3, 4 and 5 patients have also reduced. There are only five in category 3, four each in Category 4 and 5.
"Most positive cases are in Category 1 (18.9 per cent), Category 2 (73.6 per cent) and 52 cases are still under investigation," he said in a statement today, adding that most districts also showing decreasing numbers.
Masidi added that the trend is in line with the increase in the percentage of vaccinated people.
As of Sept 30, 64.8 per cent of Sabah's adult population have been fully vaccinated.
"Although those vaccinated can still be infected with Covid-19, they will not experience the serious symptoms which normally happens in most unvaccinated patients.
"Out of the 872 cases, 434 were fully vaccinated while 63 had received one dose of the vaccine.
"Another 238 positive cases involved unvaccinated people, while 137 cases involved those who were not eligible for the vaccine.
"While the vaccine does not provide us 100 per cent protection from Covid-19 infections, the protection can be complemented with our own attitude of consistently protecting ourselves and our families from being exposed to the virus."
On inter-district travel in Sabah commencing under the zonal system today, Masidi said the state government would, from time to time, reassess the immunisation programmes in districts which had yet to qualify for the system.
He had said previously that Kinabatangan, Telupid, Tongod, Sandakan, Kalabakan, Tawau, Papar, Semporna and Nabawan were excluded for now as the districts have yet to reach the 60 per cent adult vaccination rate requirement.
These districts would be automatically entitled to join the zone travel system once their vaccination rates reached the target.
Masidi said the inter-district travel according to zones system was made to help revive the economic activities of the people who were heavily affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
"We have not yet won the war against the Covid-19 virus. It is hoped that this flexibility will be seen by members of the public as placing the responsibility on their shoulders to ensure total compliance with all standard operating procedure and the Health Ministry's recommendations," he added.
Sabah recorded 17 fatalities today – three in Semporna, two each in Lahad Datu, Ranau and Beluran, and one each in Tawau, Kota Marudu, Putatan, Tuaran, Sandakan, Tenom, Keningau and Kota Kinabalu.