MIRI – Police have been asked to impose tighter inter-district travel in Sarawak.
The state Disaster Management Committee has asked police not to be lackadaisical in issuing permits to those applying to travel across district boundaries.
Its chairman, Datuk Amar Dougglas Uggah Ebbas, said inter-district movement has been identified as one of the top factors causing a surge in Covid-19 cases in the state.
He said between January 13 and yesterday, police have issued 95,221 travel permits statewide.
“We want police to be stricter in controlling travel movement.
“The infection rate is high due to the mass movement of people across districts.
“We told the police force that they must impose stricter measures when issuing travel permits, especially for Covid-19 red zones.”
The death toll from the pandemic in Sarawak remains at 55, with no new fatalities.
The state recorded 135 fresh cases today, with Sibu recording 83.
Bintulu saw 19 new cases, Miri saw nine, Kuching saw five, and other districts had less than five cases.
There are still 15 active clusters in the state.
Sibu Hospital recorded 907 positive patients today; Miri Hospital, 372; Sarawak General Hospital in Kuching, 161; Bintulu Hospital, 170; Kapit Hospital, 187; Sarikei Hospital, 28; and one each in Limbang and Lawas Hospitals.
Uggah said a lockdown has been ordered at the Sibu Jaya flats, which houses some 6,000 residents, after more than 200 Covid-19 cases were detected there.
He said active detection and screening are still ongoing in Sibu Jaya. – The Vibes, February 10, 2021