Sarawak S Green Hill Cluster Highly Infectious Warns Minister

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Sarawak minister Dr Sim Kui Hian says tests among cases in the Green Hill cluster have shown a high virus load which spreads faster and easier. (Bernama pic)KUCHING: Sarawak Local Government and Housing Minister Dr Sim Kui Hian today said the strain of the Covid-19 virus linked to the Green Hill cluster in the state seemed highly infectious.
In a statement, he said those infected had started showing symptoms on the third to fifth day instead of the 10th day onward as in previous cases.
Sim, who trained as a cardiologist, said laboratory studies had shown the virus load (amount) was high.
“The higher virus load means it will spread faster and easier,” he said. “So, there are a lot of infected young patients from the cluster, showing symptoms on the third to fifth day.
Dr Sim Kui Hian.“Most of them (in the Green Hill cluster) had gone for their Covid-19 swab test at private hospitals and clinics instead of waiting for our health officers to come to them.”
He advised the people to do their second swab test if the first result was negative.
“If the first test is negative, it does not mean you have not been infected as the incubation period for the virus is 14 days.
“The Sarawak government’s policy is different from that in Peninsular Malaysia,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sarawak Disaster Management Committee chairman Douglas Uggah Embas said there was no travel restriction to and out of Kuching for now despite the district having been classified as a red zone.
However, he advised people not to visit Kuching if they had no urgent reason to do so.
He said the Green Hill cluster, involving people and close contacts in and around Kuching, was quite worrying, and urged everyone to stay vigilant and to avoid crowded places.
To date, there are 21 positive cases linked to the cluster, including the index case – an online businessman who tested positive at a private hospital on Oct 26. - FMT

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