KOTA KINABALU: Sabah recorded 490 new Covid-19 cases today, the highest daily figure for the coronavirus since Dec 2 last year when 427 cases were recorded.
Sabah Covid-19 spokesman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said today's new infections jump more than tripled the 123 cases recorded for coronavirus yesterday.
He said Sandakan recorded the highest infections at 141 cases, due to the high number of positive cases detected through symptomatic screenings.
"From the 490 total cases, 251 or 51.22 per cent were from symptomatic screenings. This is among the highest recorded from symptomatic screenings so far in Sabah.
"This indicates that the virus has already infiltrated deep into the community," he said.
Another 11 districts recorded double-digit and single-digit cases and four districts did not record any new cases, he added.
Masidi said 482 cases from the caseload were patients under Categories 1 and 2, while four were in Category 3, three in Category 4 and one in Category 5.
No fatalities were reported today.
Meanwhile, Masidi said the state recorded its 13th education cluster this year, the latest being the Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (MRSM) Tun Mustapha in Tawau.
He said this was also Sabah's 19th active Covid-19 cluster with the others coming from workplace, community, and high-risk group clusters.
Masidi said the Jalan Apas Batu Lima cluster in Tawau was triggered by a Form 5 student who tested positive on Jan 26 through symptomatic screening.
"A close contact screening among roommates, classmates and close friends was done and found 11 more positive cases. All the students have been quarantined and given appropriate treatment.
"As a precautionary measure, other students identified as close contacts have been isolated, although they haven't developed any symptoms," Masidi said, adding that the source of infection was still being investigated.
The Jalan Apas Batu Lima was the second education cluster detected in Tawau this year. On Jan 25, a cluster named Jalan Sri Balung was discovered at SMK Balung and so far, has recorded 104 cases.