LABUAN, Nov 17 — After successfully battling COVID-19, this duty-free island is currently seeing a fluctuating trend in new cases.
This was chiefly due to complacency among some members of the public in complying with COVID-19 prevention standard operating procedures (SOP), said Labuan Health Department director Dr Ismuni Bohari.
Labuan recorded zero and single digit daily positive cases over the last three months but the numbers have been fluctuating since early this month.
Dr Ismuni said Labuan recorded 25 cases on Nov 11, eight the next day, 17 on Nov 14 and went down to four on Nov 16 before rising again to 28 yesterday (Nov 17).
“Most of the cases were contributed by people traveling in and out of Labuan and had taken part in social gatherings in Labuan and the Sabah mainland, without taking safety measures,” he told Bernama today.
He disclosed that healthcare personnel were still discharging their duties accordingly and continue with risk assessment for every case recorded.
“We continue to conduct risk assessment on every case recorded on a daily basis, and issue directives for temporary closure of business premises visited by COVID-19 cases,” he said.
Dr Ismuni disclosed that a total of 23 business premises, six government department offices, six kindergartens, 11 primary schools, four secondary schools, two higher learning institutions and 29 other premises were issued temporary closure orders since the last one month (from middle Oct till yesterday [Nov 17]).
“All the students and workers who are close contacts with the COVID-19 cases have been told to undergo quarantine,” he said.
He also said that the situation at the Labuan Matriculation College, where the Merinding 2 Cluster originated, is under control, with no new cases recorded, and more than 2, 000 students having fully complied with the quarantine order.
Labuan’s cumulative cases stand at 10, 264, with 50 deaths as of today.
