MIRI – All public social activities have been banned with immediate effect in Sarawak districts categorised as high-risk Covid-19 zones (red and orange zones).
Funeral organisers must obtain permits from their respective district office before they are allowed to proceed.
State Disaster Management Committee (DMC) chairman Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas announced the prohibition after Sarawak became the state with the most daily cases at 419 and recorded one more fatality.
“Social events such as funerals, weddings, festival celebrations, community gotong-royong, and cock-fighting have caused 59 Covid-19 clusters, contributed 40 deaths and 7,305 infections so far in Sarawak (out of 114 deaths and 17,000 cases so far),” he told a press conference in Kuching today.
“Despite the standard operating procedures (SOPs) being in place, those who organise such events do not adhere to them. Therefore, social events are prohibited until further notice in the red and orange zones. For the yellow and green zones, social activities can proceed but only with half capacity.”
The districts classified as red zones (40 and above Covid-19 cases in past two weeks) are Sibu, Miri, Bintulu, Kapit, Kuching, Meradong, Julau, Serian, Samarahan, Beluru, and Sarikei.
The orange zones (with 21 to 40 cases in the past two weeks) are Marudi, Sri Aman, and Kanowit.
Uggah said today’s fatality was a 76-year-old man in Bintulu Hospital in northern Sarawak, which brings the death toll to 114.
He added that there was a new cluster called Tembok Sri Aman, which came about due to cramped living conditions and involves detainees in Sri Aman.
The Health Ministry reported that 160 infections were detected as of today and 467 people have been screened.
The Sg Mupong cluster in Sibu and Meradong had an index case on March 26 after a symptomatic individual was screened. The cluster involves a community in Sg Mupong in Loba Stabar, Meradong. As of today, it has a total of 17 cases and 30 people screened.
The Sg Rassau cluster affects a community in Matu and Sibu. As of today, 338 individuals were screened, and 11 infections were recorded.
Sri Aman district today has 157 new infections, followed by Bintulu (57), Miri (34), Sibu (54), Serian (17), Sarikei (32), and other districts (fewer than 10 cases each).
State Health Director Dr Chin Zin Hing said those who have been vaccinated must continue to observe all SOPs. – The Vibes, April 4, 2021
