MIRI – Two of Miri’s largest tamu – the local name for a market selling local products and patronised by thousands daily – have been exposed to the Covid-19 virus.
The Miri City Council said Tamu Muhibbah in central Miri and Tamu Malam Saberkas located nearby the Pujut housing estate were found to have been patronised by people who are Covid-19 positive.
The council has issued a public notice warning the people against visiting both markets.
“Tamu Muhibbah and Tamu Malam Saberkas will be temporarily closed to all trading activities, as they have been found to be exposed to the coronavirus.
“We will undertake immediate sanitisation works on these two markets within the next three days from February 13 to 16,” said the public notice.
Miri Mayor Adam Yii told The Vibes that the coronavirus was detected at both markets by the health department.
“The matter was made known to us by the state Disaster Management Committee,” he said.
“It is mandatory for all public activities to be prohibited at locations which have been exposed to the virus until thorough decontamination and sanitisation works are done.
“These markets cater to big crowds daily, so we need to be very strict in enforcing standard operating procedures (SOPs), or else there could be a major surge of Covid-19 infections,” he said.
Miri is a Covid-19 red zone, and its hospital is treating about 300 coronavirus patients daily. – The Vibes, February 12, 2021