Tuaran now a Covid red zone, residents urged to wear face masks

SHAH ALAM - Tuaran residents have been told to wear face mask when indoors after the district was declared as a Covid red zone.

Dr Noraziah Bakri, the Health Officer of Tuaran District said public cooperation is needed to curb the spread.

"The use of face masks is optional in buildings and it is not mandatory outside buildings and in open areas. However, wearing masks is highly encouraged as it can help reduce the risk of Covid-19 infection," Harian Metro reported quoting Dr Noraziah.

Tuaran has been designated as a Covid red zone after a surge in positive cases over the past week.

Deputy Chief Minister of Sabah Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam said the district reported 26 new cases in the previous week, compared to 18 cases the week before.

He said Tuaran is the only district with the highest number of cases, surpassing 40 positive cases.

It firther reported that Covid-19 case analysis for Epid Week (ME) 19/2023 (last week) saw only three districts recorded a decrease in weekly cases. They are Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu and Tawau.

The other 16 districts in Sabah did not record any cases. Among them are namely Putatan, Ranau, Kudat, Kota Marudu, Pitas, Sipitang, Tambunan, Tenom, Nabawan, Tongod, Semporna, Kalabakan, Telupid, Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu and Tawau.

"The districts that recorded an increase in the number of cases in ME 19 compared to ME 18 are Tuaran, Sandakan, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Penyu, Papar, Penampang, Beluran, Kota Belud, Beaufort, Keningau and Kunak.

"No Covid-19-related deaths have been reported in the state of ME 19," he said in a media statement on Sabah's weekly Covid-19 development.

Harian Metro further quoted Joachim stating that said the number of new cases in ME 19/2023 throughout Sabah increased by 68 percent to 64 cases compared to 38 cases the week before with all of them being local cases.

He said the average daily active cases for ME 19/2023 also increased by 40 percent to seven cases compared to five cases in the previous week.

"The number of Covid-19 patients in treatment also increased by six percent to 166 cases in ME 19 compared to 156 cases in ME 18," he said.

Meanwhile, he reminded the public to continue practicing preventive measures especially wearing face masks in crowded places following the current situation of positive cases of Covid-19.