New COVID-19 cluster detected in M’sia, called “IPT Sabah”
Image adapted from: Free Malaysia Today
Although Malaysians are hoping that this round of Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) that’s slated to end on 9th June 2020 will be the final one, there are still several hurdles that need to be overcome. One of such is the emergence of new clusters. From the previously reported Cheras mall cluster, the country has recently reported that there is yet another new COVID-19 cluster, and it’s been given the name “IPT Sabah”.
The IPT Sabah cluster currently has 3 patients infected by the virus and involves the students of University Malaya Sabah (UMS), hence the name.
2 patients from IPT Sabah cluster were asymptomatic
According to NST, Sabah identified a new cluster after 2 more students from UMS tested positive for COVID-19 a day after the 1st patient was brought in. As of this morning, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases under the IPT Sabah cluster stands at 3.
State Health Department Director Datuk Dr Christina Rundi has clarified that all 3 patients have been admitted to hospital while preventive measures are taking place at the educational institute. She also shared that they are currently investigating the cause of this chain of infections as it is still unknown.
Image adapted from: Bernama
However, Health Director-General Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah shared his 2 cents by saying that the source of infection could be from among the institute’s staff members, as they were granted the liberty to roam around the premise, unlike students who were in quarantine.
Image adapted from: Bernama
It was also reported that 2 out of the 3 students were asymptomatic, meaning that they did not display any COVID-19 symptoms but are still carriers of the virus. They were only discovered after a mandatory screening was done on the university’s 7,000 students before they were allowed to return back to their homes.
Another COVID-19 cluster detected in Malaysia
While we’re anxious to know that another COVID-19 cluster has emerged, we have faith that the local authorities and frontliners will do the best they can to contain the spread of the virus before any more are infected.
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