Delta now the dominant variant in Sarawak

The Delta variant is currently the dominant circulating Covid-19 variant in Sarawak with 303 cases detected from 307 cases undergoing genomic sequencing as of Aug 31, according to Universiti Malaysia Sarawak Institute of Health and Community Medicine (IHCM) director Dr David Perera.

He said cases involving this variant of concern (VOC) represent 99% of the cases undergoing genomic sequencing on SARS-COV 2 carried out by the institute.

“This represents an increase from the 82% reported by IHCM on Aug 2 this year, thus the data suggests that the Delta variant is currently the dominant circulating variant in Sarawak,” he said in his latest report to the chairman of the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee, Amar Douglas Uggah, today.

He said the samples obtained by the institute from cases in the Kuching, Serian, Samarahan, Sri Aman, Betong, Sarikei, Mukah and Limbang divisions, as well as from the Import A (persons from other countries entering Sarawak) category carried the variant.

“The Sibu and Kapit divisions (cases) on the other hand registered 97% detection rate (with the variant) while the Bintulu division had 98%,” he added.