MEDIA STATEMENT
ON THE CURRENT SITUATION OF COVID-19
IN BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
04 Muharram 1443 / 13 August 2021
1. The Ministry of Health would like to announce that today, Friday, 04 Muharram 1443 / 13 August 2021, fifty-five (55) new cases of COVID-19 have been detected in the country bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases to 598.
- Additional cases to currently active clusters are as follows:
- 16 cases for Chung Hua KB Cluster;
- 3 cases for Immigration Cluster;
- 3 cases for 499 Cluster;
- 2 cases for ABCi Cluster;
- 2 cases for TOTAL Cluster; and
- 1 case for Champion 7 Cluster.
- 2 new clusters have been identified as follow:
- 3 new cases today are related to Case 451 which was reported on 11 August 2021. This cluster is now known as the 451 Cluster (in reference to Case 451); and
- 2 new cases today are related to Case 477 which was reported on 11 August 2021. This cluster is now known as the 477 Cluster (in reference to Case 477).
- 1 new imported case has been reported. This case arrived in Brunei Darussalam from the United Kingdom on 30 July 2021.
- Meanwhile, there are 22 cases where the source of infection is still being determined, in which one of the cases is related to Case 448 which was reported on 11 August 2021.
- The cases in the active clusters are individuals who are currently being quarantined and were found to be in contact with several confirmed cases.
- Contact tracing for all these new cases is currently undergoing. All identified close contacts are required to undergo mandatory quarantine and RT-PCR SARS-CoV-2 test.
2. In light of the increased number of cases in the Immigration Cluster, the Ministry of Health would like to advice any individuals that has visited the Immigration and National Registration Department counter in Bandar Seri Begawan between 2 August 2021 unti 9 August 2021 and currently experiencing signs of infection to immediately seek treatment and undergo SARS-CoV-2 test at any nearby swabbing centres.
3. Meanwhile, 5 cases who were treated at the National Isolation Centre have recovered bringing the total of recovered cases to 327. Currently, a total of 268 active cases have been recorded in Brunei Darussalam.
4. Among the active cases, two are in critical condition while two other cases are under close monitoring at the National Isolation Centre.
5. In the past 24 hours, a total of 2,252 samples have been tested for the SARS-CoV-2 virus which brings the total number of laboratory tests conducted since January 2020 to 167,061 tests. Currently, there is a sharp increase for the SARS-CoV-2 tests at Government laboratory causing a delay to obtain the test results. In this regard, the public is requested to be patient and provide cooperation to not visit the laboratory on your own to obtain the test result. The laboratory is a controlled area and at high risk for any infection. In relation to that, for those who will be leaving Brunei Darussalam and have undergone a swab test in the last 3 days and have not received their swab test results, are advised to repeat the test. No additional charges will be applied to the repeated test.
6. In the latest development, the Ministry of Health will be introducing a new feature in the BruHealth app known as the Digital Quarantine Order, which will be activated starting today. The Digital Quarantine Order aims to:
- provide notification and information to close contacts that they have been identified as contacts to a positive COVID-19 case.
- facilitate the authorities to monitor the status of those who have been given Quarantine Order virtually, including information on their whereabouts at all times; receive confirmation of signs of infection that may be experienced with daily check-in; and accepting application for food deliveries;
- act as a digital reference document for employees to inform their upper management of the Quarantine Order imposed; and
- reduce the need for the issuance of a written Quarantine Order especially for those with access to the BruHealh app.
7. Therefore, the public is required to update their personal information including family members that are registered in the BruHealth app, especially their home addresses. This will assist the relevant authorities to monitor and enforce the Quarantine Order. What is unique with this Digital Quarantine Order is that it possess the ability to detect if any quarantined individual is found to be more than 100 metres from their home address. If this happens, the authorities will be immediately notified. Therefore, the public is advised to take serious of the Quarantine Order imposed to any individual, including updating their quarantine status in the BruHealth app via the Digital Quarantine Order in order to assist the Ministry of Health in monitoring the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak in the country.
8. In this regard, any individual who is found to violate or disobey any instructions issued during the COVID-19 pandemic is an offense under the Infectious Diseases Act (Chapter 204) of which if found guilty can be fined a compound of up to BND5,000, or if convicted in court can be fined up to BND10,000 or imprisonment for up to six months or both.
9. At this opportunity, the Ministry of Health would like to once again remind the public to follow all instructions and control measures issued by the Government. Insya Allah, with prayer and effort, we will all be able to control the spread the COVID-19 outbreak in Brunei Darussalam.
10. For further information and latest updates, please visit the official website of the Ministry of Health at www.moh.gov.bn or by contacting the Health Advice Line 148 or through the BruHealth App.
– END –
Reference : KK/PR/2
Date : 04 Muharram 1443H / 13 August 2021