MIRI – The lack of security and enforcement of standard operating procedures (SOPs) at longhouses in Sarawak has been blamed for the emergence of another Covid-19 cluster in the state.
This time the cluster involves three longhouses in central Sarawak. Netizens took their grouses to social media, questioning the lack of enforcement of rules imposed by the State Disaster Management Committee banning social gatherings at longhouses since January.
A villager, Aiman Tarai, said unless security forces clamp down on gatherings at these places, there will be no end to the state’s Covid-19 chain of infections.
“Infection from longhouses often spread to towns and cities.
“The Pasai cluster involving longhouses (60km from Sibu town) have spread not just to Sibu but (to) all over Sarawak now,” he said.
Another netizen Nara Jait said there were illegal routes called “rat-holes” that allowed residents to continue sneaking out of lockdown areas.
“These rat-holes enabled residents to sneak out for drinking sessions and gambling,” he said.
Many comments were also posted on the Sibu Municipal Council’s website urging authorities to be more stringent in halting social gatherings.
Yesterday, another Covid-19 cluster was detected in Selangau district adjacent to the Sibu district, caused by longhouse gatherings.
This, despite 27 active clusters statewide and the death toll increasing in Sibu.
The latest cluster was detected yesterday in Sungai Buloh at the Selangau district located about 30km from Sibu town.
The State Disaster Management Committee secretariat said that the Sg Buloh cluster involved three longhouses.
“The new Sg Buloh Cluster was caused by a gathering involving residents of three longhouses who converged for a social event.
“A 32-year old woman who was infected with Covid-19 in that gathering sparked off an outbreak.
“So far, 28 positive cases have been recorded,” said the secretariat.
Mass-screening is being carried out by health teams at the affected longhouses now. Yesterday, the death toll from the coronavirus stood at 81.
A 77-year old man died at Sibu Hospital and Covid-19 was confirmed as the cause of death. Yesterday also saw 255 new positive cases.
Sibu recorded 106 new cases, Selangau (27), Miri (26), Kapit (22), Bintulu (13), Kuching (12), Betong (11) and several other districts less than 10 cases each.
Sibu Hospital has 1,101 Covid-19 patients, Sarawak General Hospital in Kuching (384), Bintulu Hospital (282), Sarikei Hospital (212), Kapit Hospital (188), Miri Hospital (137) and Sri Aman Hospital (33). The secretariat said the public must strictly adhere to public health rules as the outbreak still needed to be reined in. – The Vibes, February 28, 2021
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