Labuan Covid-19 immunisation task force chairman Rithuan Ismail said the island, which had fewer than 30 active cases early last month, now has 1,885 cases. Labuan has a total population of 99,500.

“Four clusters, namely Victoria Merdeka, Simpang Sahari, Simpang Sungai and Patau-Patau, are showing a sharp upward trend with a daily increase of more than 10 cases each.

“We have also recorded fatalities daily for the past few days, taking Labuan’s death toll to 39 as of yesterday,” he said today.

Rithuan said that as of yesterday, the cumulative number of cases of the Victoria Merdeka Cluster stood at 361, followed by Simpang Sahari (320), Patau-Patau (249) and Simpang Sungai (156), while the Layangan cluster cases remained at 58.

According to him, the number of people who tested positive after having close contact with Covid-19 patients also increased to over 10%.

“The number of people undergoing treatment and quarantine at Labuan Nucleus Hospital has risen to 155 compared to 134 at the low-risk quarantine centre of Labuan Corporation’s multipurpose hall and 40 at the Bahagian Teknologi Pendidikan Tinggi, Jalan Sungai Lada.

“The number of cases at the Covid-19 assessment centre has increased steadily to 1,555. The centre, which is to assess the level of infection of individuals, only opened a few days ago,” he said.

Meanwhile, Labuan health department director Dr Ismuni Bohari said the Labuan Industrial Training Institute hostel, used again as a low-risk quarantine centre, commenced operations yesterday with 50 patients moved from the multipurpose hall.

“The remaining patients there will be moved today and tomorrow as we will turn the premises into a temporary Covid-19 hospital ward soon,” he said.

Labuan recorded 209 new Covid-19 cases today, bringing the island’s total number to 4,961.