'Sabah's Madai cluster could have been due to interdistrict travel'

 By Olivia Miwil - April 28, 2021 @ 8:53pm

KOTA KINABALU: A mother-in-law who crossed district to meet her child in Kunak is likely to have sparked the Madai Covid-19 cluster involving two districts.

Sabah Covid-19 spokesperson Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said the symptomatic index case, works at a supermarket in Lahad Datu, tested positive on April 4 and 11 of her housemates were also infected.

"From observation, the index case is believed to have been infected by her mother-in-law who crossed district to Kunak to visit her child who is a teacher at SMK Madai.

"The teacher is also confirmed positive upon testing at a medical centre in Kunak on April 9," he said in a statement.

Masidi added that further screenings found 11 students staying at the hostel and a staff were also positive.

The infection further spread to two of the students' family members as they returned homes.

"Further screening on symptomatic people also showed four new Covid-19 cases at the Kunak hospital on April 18.

"Screening and controlling measures are still ongoing," he said, adding the Madai cluster has a cumulative of 30 Covid-19 positive cases.

Sabah recorded 87 Covid-19 cases with one death reported in Tawau.