COVID-19 | The number of people infected with Covid-19 in Sabah has continued to grow as a state election campaign is in progress.

According to the Health Ministry, there were 47 new Covid-19 cases detected in the country, of which 31 were found in Sabah alone as of noon today.

While most of the new infections in Sabah were linked to the Benteng LD cluster with 22 cases, there were also cases detected from screenings at health clinics (four), quarantine centres (two) and a police station lock-up (one).

One case in Sabah involved a health worker and another involved someone who sought treatment for influenza-like illnesses. 

In Kedah, there were 14 cases, mostly from the Tawar cluster (13) and one from the Sungai cluster.

Two of the cases reported today were imported.  

Of the 47 new cases, 19 involved foreigners, including the two imported cases who recently arrived from abroad.

At present, there are 591 active Covid-19 cases with nine patients in intensive care, of which four require ventilator support.

The death toll remained at 128.

The Health Ministry is alarmed with yet another case involving a health worker, as from the three main active clusters - Benteng LD, Tawar and Sungai - 28 of the infections in these clusters involved health frontliners. 

"All frontline workers need to take note of this," said Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

He urged all frontliners to always follow the guidelines and constantly remind their peers to do so.

This includes the washing of hands with soap, wearing personal protective equipment, maintaining physical distance and conducting constant disinfection exercises.

"Even when outside of working hours, frontline staff have to follow the guidelines set by the government and live the new normal required to stop the spread of Covid-19," Noor Hisham added.