COVID-19 updates - Mar 15 Highlights from today’s press conference with the Minister of Health; Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Commissioner of Police: 🔴 10 new COVID-19 cases were recorded in #Brunei today, according to the Minister of Health. This brings the national tally to 50. 🔴 7 of the new cases are linked to the first cluster. 🔴 3 of the new cases have no links to the first cluster and are linked to Case 25 who had a travel history to Indonesia and Malaysia. They attended a family gathering with Case 25 on Mar 8. 🔴 All citizens, permanent residents and residents of Brunei are barred from travelling out of the country from all points of entry. 🔴 Permission for travelling is only applicable for matters such as urgent medical reasons, court hearings and or studying abroad and these are subject to approval by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). 🔴 Travel applications can be made through email at travelapplication@jpm.gov.bn with supporting documents attached. Posted by Borneo Bulletin on Sunday, 15 March 2020

James Kon

Brunei Darussalam yesterday recorded 10 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 50.

Seven of the new cases are linked to the Tabligh assembly in Kuala Lumpur, while three are linked to Case 25 first reported on March 12.

These new cases were announced by Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar at a press conference at the Ministry of Health’s (MoH) Al-’Afiah Hall yesterday.

Case 41 is a 31-year-old woman who is married to Case 15. She does not have any recent travel history abroad and started to exhibit coughing and flu-like symptoms on March 12.

Case 42 is a 55-year-old woman who is a sibling of Case 12 in the Tabligh cluster. She does not have any recent travel history abroad, and began coughing and running a fever on March 9.

Case 43 is a local man aged 29, who attended a local Tabligh gathering on March 5, during which several participants of the Kuala Lumpur assembly were also present.

Case 44 is a 23-year-old woman who has links with the Case 25 cluster. She attended a family event with Case 25 on March 8 and developed fever on March 10.

Case 45 is a 56-year-old woman who is linked to the Case 25 cluster. She also attended the family event on March 8 and developed a fever and flu-like symptoms on March 12.

Case 46 is a 56-year-old man, who is a friend of Case 8 from the Tabligh cluster. He met with Case 8 on March 9 and developed fever on March 12.

Case 47 is a local man aged 68 who attended the local Tabligh gathering on March 5.

Case 48 is a local man aged 20 who also attended the local Tabligh gathering on March 5.

Case 49 is a 24-year-old man who is linked to the Case 25 cluster. He attended the family gathering on March 8 and does not exhibit any symptoms of infection.

Case 50 is the 55-year-old wife of Case 36 in the Tabligh cluster. She does not have any recent travel history abroad and does not exhibit any symptom of infection.

All patients are in a stable condition, while undergoing treatment at the National Isolation Centre. They have no fever and do not require respiratory assistance.

The MoH advised those who attended the local Tabligh gathering on March 5-8 to undergo immediate testing for COVID-19 at the Sports Complex of the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital.

Anyone with information on the attendees who still have to be accounted for can contact the Health Advice Line at 148.

The MoH is continually carrying out contact tracing for each case. A total of 886 individuals have been instructed to undergo quarantine, in accordance with the Infectious Diseases Act (Chapter 204). Since the spread of COVID-19 in early January, 1,023 laboratory tests have been carried out.

The nine Bruneians who attended the Tabligh assembly in Kuala Lumpur are still in Malaysia, and under quarantine. Out of that number, three tested positive for COVID-19 and are being treated at Sungai Buloh Hospital in Selangor. One tested negative and the remaining five are still awaiting their test results.

Meanwhile, Brunei participants in the Pontianak Bike Week held on March 12-14 in Kalimantan and the Borneo Ultra Trail Marathon 2020 from March 14-16 in Sabah are required to register themselves with the Port Health Unit at the Brunei International Airport and all border control posts, to receive guidelines for 14 days of self-isolation.

Those who have returned to the country and have not registered are required to contact the Health Advice Line at 148.

The public can contact the Health Advice Line to report any mass gatherings abroad being attended by Brunei citizens and residents.

Contacts of the positive cases, who are currently undergoing quarantine and whose test results returned negative, are reminded to abide by the guidelines for quarantine. Should they have any symptoms of infection, they are required to call 148.

Anyone refusing to abide by the guidelines will be prosecuted under the Infectious Diseases Act (Chapter 204), which carries the penalty of a fine of up to BND10,000, or six months’ imprisonment, or both.

Those with symptoms of infection are warned against visiting patients suffering from chronic diseases, since this could endanger their lives.

The MoH welcomes public cooperation in controlling the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

For information, visit the MoH website at www.moh.gov.bn, or contact the Health Advice Line at 148.