MEDIA STATEMENT
ON THE CURRENT SITUATION OF COVID-19
IN BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
25 Safar 1443 / 2 October 2021
1. Today, Saturday, 25 Safar 1443 / 2 October 2021, by the will of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala and with a heavy heart, the Ministry of Health would like to inform the public that five COVID-19 confirmed cases have returned to the grace and mercy of Allah.
2. Case 7067, who was an 87-year-old woman and Case 2922, who was a 52-year-old man had passed away due to lung problems after being infected with COVID-19. Case 3521, who was a 67-year-old man and Case 6327, who was a 47-year-old man had multiple health issues and are not categorized as death by COVID-19. Meanwhile, Case 5018, who was a 70-year-old man, the cause of death is currently being investigated.
3. In this opportunity, myself representing the Ministry of Health as well as the people of Brunei Darussalam, would like to express our deepest condolences to the cases’ families and pray their souls will receive blessings and are placed among the pious. Al-Fatihah.
(Al-Fatihah)
4. Today, two hundred and forty-two (242) new cases of COVID-19 infections have been confirmed bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases to 7,568.
- There are 55 additional new cases to 16 of the existing active clusters who were previously close contacts with several positive cases.
- Meanwhile, eight new clusters have been detected bringing the total number of active clusters to 131 clusters. The clusters are:
- 7266 Cluster that contains 6 cases;
- 7215 Cluster that contains 4 cases;
- 6987 Cluster that contains 4 cases;
- 7327 Cluster that contains 4 cases;
- 7339 Cluster that contains 7 cases;
- Guardian Distribution Centre Cluster that contains 6 cases;
- Soon Lee Heavy Machineries Cluster that contains 6 cases; and
- Syarikat Dayang Damit & Rakan-Rakan Cluster that contains 12 cases.
5. One hundred and forty-nine (149) cases have recovered today bringing the total number of recovered cases in Brunei Darussalam to 5,192 cases, whereas the total number active cases are 2,321 cases.
6. Among the cases being treated at the National Isolation Centre, six cases are in Category 5 and currently treated at the Intensive Care Unit. All of them require assistance of artificial ventilation with one case requiring the help of an additional heart/lung machine (ECMO). Meanwhile, thirty (30) cases are categorised in Category 4 that require oxygen assistance and are under close monitoring.
7. In the past 24 hours, a total of 3,857 samples have been tested for the SARS-CoV-2 virus which brings the total number of laboratory tests conducted since January 2020 to 364,939 tests.
8. As per Section 62A of the Infectious Diseases Act Chapter 204, all domestic runners are required to register with the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications (MTIC). This is taking into account the role of domestic runners in meeting the needs of the public and as a measure to safeguard the interests, existence and well-being of the business sector and especially the public when the country is facing the current spread of COVID-19 pandemic. Further details on this matter will be presented by the Honourable Minister of Transport and Infocommunications.
9. On 1st October 2021, a total of 2,230 individuals have received the COVID-19 vaccine injection. This means that, under the National Vaccination Programme, a total of 296,142 individuals have received the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine which is 65.3% from the total population. Meanwhile, 196,675 individuals have completed the second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine which is 43.4% from the total population. In efforts of the Government of His Majesty The Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam to accelerate the increase in vaccination rates to achieve the target of at least 80% of the population in the country to complete the second dose of COVID-19 vaccination before the end of 2021, the Ministry of Health will add-on vaccination slots in all vaccination centres as follows:
- Commencing Tuesday, 5 October 2021, the National Vaccination Programme will add-on 2,500 doses of COVID-19 vaccine injections per day.
- This service is open to all citizens and residents of Brunei Darussalam including the elderly, pregnant mothers and differently-abled persons; except those under the age of 18 years old. Priority are given to those who have difficulty in booking the first dose vaccination slots through the BruHealth app.
- This service is only provided by bookings which can be done via the WhatsApp app only to the numbers as listed below.
Slots between 8:00 am until 12:00 noon – 7460025
Slots between 12:00 noon until 4:00 pm – 7460026
Slots between 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm – 7460027
- The booking time will commence on Monday, 4 October 2021 and the operation hours to receive bookings are on Monday to Thursday and Saturday, from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon only.
- Successful bookings will receive an SMS (short messaging service) from the Ministry of Health within 24 hours from the day of booking.
- The information required when making a slot booking are; Full name; Smart Card number; BruHIMS number (if available); and a mobile number for easy contact.
- Any individual who does not possess BruHealth or BruHIMS at the time of booking, they will be arranged to get the vaccination at four vaccination centres as shown on the screen, where they will also be required to undergo an ART swab test before being vaccinated.
- The operating hours for the additional vaccination slots service at all vaccination centres are as shown below.
| Vaccination Centres | Operating hours for the additional vaccination slots service |
ART swab test (40 minutes before vaccination) |
|
Indoor Stadium Vaccination Centre
|
Monday – Saturday: 8:00 am until 8:00 pm Sunday: 8:00 am until 2:00 pm |
Yes (ART swab test will be conducted to those who do not have BruHealth & BruHIMS) |
|
Jubli Emas Bunut Health Centre Vaccination Centre
|
Monday – Thursday & Saturday: 2:00 pm until 3:00 pm |
No (therefore required to have BruHealth & BruHIMS if making a booking at this vaccination centre) |
| Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam Vaccination Centre |
Monday – Thursday & Saturday: 8:00 am until 4:30 pm |
No (therefore required to have BruHealth & BruHIMS if making a booking at this vaccination centre) |
| Learning and Development Centre, Suri Seri Begawan Hospital Vaccination Centre |
Monday – Thursday & Saturday: 8:00 am until 8:00 pm Sunday: 8:00 am until 2:00 pm |
Yes (ART swab test will be conducted to those who do not have BruHealth & BruHIMS) |
|
Belalong Community Hall, Temburong Vaccination Centre
|
Monday – Thursday & Saturday: 8:15 am until 11:30 am 1:45 pm until 3:30 pm
|
Yes (ART swab test will be conducted to those who do not have BruHealth & BruHIMS) |
|
Seri Kenangan Hall, Pekan Tutong Vaccination Centre
|
Monday – Thursday & Saturday: 8:00 am until 6:00 pm
|
Yes (ART swab test will be conducted to those who do not have BruHealth & BruHIMS) |
10. On this occasion, I would like to remind the public to comply all the directives issued to control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The public are advised not to leave the house without an important purpose and if necessary to leave the house not to go to crowded places as well as to practice social distancing. In addition, to continuously practice personal safety measures such as wearing a face mask, frequently washing your hands and practice proper sneeze and cough etiquette. Thank you.
– END –
Reference : KK/PR/2
Date : 25 Safar 1443H / 2 October 2021