KOTA KINABALU: Another new Covid-19 cluster involving an educational institution has been detected in Sabah as the state recorded 256 new cases.

Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, spokesperson for Sabah Covid-19 (Photo) said the Pandan-Pandan cluster was detected involving the staff, families and students of Madrasah Darul Hadis at Kampung Pandan-Pandan in Putatan.

He said the cluster was triggered after the index case of a 53-year-old madrasah teacher was confirmed positive for Covid-19 after being screened for symptoms.

“He presented with cough, fever and flu symptoms and underwent a PCR screening on January 17 and was confirmed positive,” he said.

Masidi said tracing of close contacts of family members, staff and students revealed another 15 people had been infected.

He said the recent increase in active clusters had led to an increase in the number of cases.

A total of 86 new cases came from four active clusters, with the highest number of 54 coming from a workplace cluster – Trayon River in Kinabatangan.

Next come three groups related to educational institutions – Pandan Pandan group, Putatan (14 cases), Jalan Pertukangan group, Sandakan group and Puri Ranau (nine cases each).

“The emergence of clusters also affects the number of daily cases in these districts.

“The number of cases in Kinabatangan has risen to 55 cases from just one case due to the Trayon River cluster.

“Infection in Putatan also increased to 21 cases from five while in Ranau it increased to 12 cases from six,” he said.

Masidi said children under 12 who tested positive for Covid-19 registered a relatively high number at 38 people, or about 15% of the total cases.