MIRI – A total of 428 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) candidates from 32 schools in rural Sarawak could not sit for their exam today due to the enhanced movement control order (EMCO) imposed at their localities.
State Disaster Management Committee chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said in a press conference in Kuching that there were still 25 active Covid-19 clusters across the state.
“There are two new clusters: Emperoh in Kuching, and Sg Bakong in Maradong, where the latter cluster involves SMK Meradong.”
He added that 21 positive cases were found in the school hostels, and that the infected students have been taken to Sarikei Hospital while the school was under lockdown.
Uggah, who is also one of the state’s three deputy chief ministers, said that there was one new Covid-19 death – involving a 58-year-old man who died at Sibu hospital – bringing the fatality toll to 74.
The infection rate is at a high of 221 new positive cases, with Kuching recording 67 new positive cases. This was followed by Sibu district (63), Bintulu (28), Maradong (24), Kapit (15), Miri (5) and several other districts with less than five new cases.
Currently, Sibu Hospital is treating 1,165 Covid-19 patients. Meanwhile, the patient loads at other hospitals are: Miri Hospital with 237, Kapit Hospital with 204, Sarawak General Hospital in Kuching with 285, Bintulu Hospital with 213, Sarikei Hospital with 44, and Sri Aman with 27.
Uggah said that police security would be tightened in Kuching to ensure compliance with the standard operating procedures (SOPs). – The Vibes, February 22, 2021
