Spiralling Covid-19 cases and other news you may have missed

KINI ROUNDUP | Here are key headlines you may have missed, in brief.

1. The Covid-19 situation in the country continues to deteriorate, particularly in Sabah and Kedah, with another 293 cases - making it almost 900 new cases in just three days.

2. The consolation is that most of the cases are confined within prisons but this has again shone a spotlight on the issue of overcrowding within such facilities that create a perfect storm for Covid-19.

3. The Sarawak ruling coalition hinted on a state election to be held soon, but this saw pushback from some within the civil society after the recently concluded Sabah election fuelled the spread of Covid-19.

4. The government has scrambled to reinstate measures against Covid-19, including a rushed attempt to prevent students from returning to university that left many stranded. However, cash and logistical aid are now being provided to those affected.

5. Already, Covid-19 has found its way to Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin in Terengganu after a staff member became infected.

6. Sungai Buloh Hospital will again be converted to serve Covid-19 patients only, as the country faces a third wave. It last played this role during the second wave in March but began serving normal patients again when the situation improved.

7. Meanwhile, some people continue to flout Covid-19 rules. The latest incident was a 52-year-old man who went to a restaurant with a pink wristband - which indicated that he was supposed to be under home quarantine - prompting alarm and his subsequent arrest.

8. Borrowers who have not received a conditional exemption will have to begin paying their loans this month, but the National Union of Bank Employees (Nube) became the latest group to nudge the government to reinstate loan moratoriums, citing weaknesses in the current targeted approach.

9. Amid all these worries, some folks in the Klang Valley may find additional headache as 300,000 households have been hit by water cut due to river pollution, the second such incident in a month.

10. Finally, it's census time again and we've come out with a KiniGuide on what to expect when an enumerator comes knocking on your door.