James Kon
After 21 days of zero COVID-19 cases, Brunei Darussalam yesterday recorded five new imported cases arriving in the country on the same day, on two separate flights from India.
The five new active cases are receiving treatment at the National Isolation Centre (NIC) in the Tutong District.
Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar revealed details of the latest imported cases during a press conference yesterday.
“Case 153 is a man aged 29, who arrived in Brunei Darussalam on Royal Brunei Airlines (RB) BI874 flight from India, via Kuala Lumpur, on December 18,” he said.
“He came down with diarrhoea on December 21, for two days. At present, he has no other signs of infection.
“Case 154 is a woman aged 27, who arrived in Brunei Darussalam on the RB BI4112 flight from India, on December 18. She showed no signs of infection.
“Case 155 is a woman aged 61, who arrived in Brunei Darussalam on the RB BI4112 flight from India, on December 18. She developed a fever on December 29.
“Case 156 is a man aged 63, and is the husband of Case 155. He also arrived in Brunei Darussalam on the RB BI4112 flight on December 18, from India. He started to develop a fever and a cough, on December 28.
“Case 157 is a woman aged 33, who also arrived in Brunei Darussalam, on the RB BI4112 flight from India, on December 18. She showed no signs of infection.”
The minister also said that contact tracing for the new cases resulted in 19 contacts being identified, tested and confirmed negative for COVID-19.
With the detection of the new cases, 16 imported cases have been confirmed.
Since the last local case was reported on May 6, Brunei Darussalam has recorded 238 days without local infections of COVID-19.
With the latest developments and current global situation, members of the public are reminded not to be too complacent in practising their social responsibilities. They are required to maintain personal hygiene, as well as observing proper coughing and sneezing etiquette.
Members of the public – especially individuals at risk such as the elderly, pregnant women and individuals with chronic diseases such as diabetes, kidney ailments and respiratory problems – are recommended to use face masks in public places, including crowded places such as shopping malls, sales expos and sightseeing venues.
The public is also advised not to leave the house, if feeling unwell, and to avoid crowded places.
The minister added, “As per the provisions under the Infectious Diseases Act (Chapter 204), the public is required to comply with all regulations and instructions issued and are still in force during this COVID-19 pandemic.
“The MoH will continue to monitor the situation of the outbreak at the national, as well as regional and global levels, and will notify the public of any changes to the COVID-19 infection, if necessary, from time to time.”
A total of 580 people are in mandatory self-isolation at the monitoring centres provided by the government, after arriving from abroad, while 10,304 have completed their stint.
In the past 24 hours, 199 samples have been tested for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which brings the total number of laboratory tests conducted since January this year to 83,108.
More information and the latest updates can be obtained from the MoH official website at www.moh.gov.bn, or by contacting the Health Advice Line at 148 or through the BruHealth app.