KOTA KINABALU: More than half of the new Covid-19 cases in Sabah today involved vaccinated people.
Sabah Covid-19 spokesman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said out of the 641 new cases recorded in the state today, 413 have been vaccinated, with 400 already fully-vaccinated while 13 had been inoculated once.
This, he said, indicated that many of the vaccinated individuals have neglected to comply with the standard operating procedures (SOP) as they assumed that the vaccine provides 100 per cent protection against infection.
"It has been observed that more and more people who have obtained full vaccination have become infected with the Covid-19 virus. It is just that most of them only experienced mild symptoms or do not have any symptoms.
"In conclusion, many of them may have neglected to comply with the SOP because it is assumed that the vaccine provides 100 per cent protection against infection.
"As a reminder, those who are vaccinated are not exempt from complying with all SOP to protect themselves from infection.
"It should be noted that the vaccine does not provide 100 per cent protection against infection. In fact, there is no vaccine for any disease that guarantees 100 per cent immunity," he said in a statement today.
Masidi said there was not much change in the situation involving Covid-19 infection in Sabah compared to yesterday, but the increasing number of sporadic cases was worrying.
"Today 41.3 per cent of the total cases are cases that occured sporadically. This is worrying because the virus carrier is unknown and the site of infection cannot be ascertained.
"Usually, sporadic cases occur in public places or in a crowd as well as via failure to comply with SOP," he said.
With close contact remaining the main contributor to the caseload and sporadic cases on the rise, Masidi said it is a sign to the community to intensify their efforts to take care of their health and comply with all SOP.
"Each of us is already a 'frontliner'. I call on all the Village Development and Security Committee, village heads and other grassroots leaders to help the government ensure all residents comply with the SOP in their respective villages," he said.
Meanwhile, a new cluster in Sabah has emerged following a funeral gathering in Tenom.
Masidi said the index case was a 37-year-old woman who tested positive for Covid-19 at the Tenom Hospital on Oct 14.
"Based on preliminary investigations, the Alab Senagang cluster was suspected to have originated from the woman's mother-in-law's funeral ceremony.
"On Oct 10, the mother-in-law of the index case passed away due to Covid-19 and was brought back to Kampung Senagang on Oct 11.
"Some family members were reported to have gathered when the body was brought back to the index case house.
"Out of 88 individuals who have been screened, 50 of them were positive, he said.
Sabah also registered six fatalities – two each in Tawau and Keningau and one each in Ranau and Sandakan.