MIRI – The Sarawak government has taken a wary stance on reopening of its borders to more visitors and foreigners, and wants such a move to be carried out with due caution in view of the latest surge in Covid-19 cases in the state.
“We don’t want to see a situation whereby Covid-19 cases surge to such a level that we have to consider a lockdown,” said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan yesterday.
“We want to be able to handle the situation well and not allow the infection surge to get out of control.
"While we welcome more visitors and tourists, we must also view the latest trend of infection increase very seriously.”
Speaking at a meeting with the Sarawak Timber Industry Development Board in Kuching, he stressed that any move to reopen the borders must be well-controlled and done with due caution given to the prevailing infection trend.
However, there are those who opine that Sarawak must shelve any plan to reopen itself to more foreigners or travellers following the emergence of new Covid-19 clusters in this state and the rapid spread of the Omicron variant.
Social activist Voon Shak Ni yesterday said it is too risky to allow more entries into this state at this point in time, especially in Kuching where the numbers are rising.
Voon, who is former Sarawak PKR vice-president, said the state government must avert any more surges to the level seen last year.
“The state cannot afford to go through another round of severe pandemic like the one experienced last year.
“Due to the latest increase in Covid-19 cases again in Sarawak, we must not open fully, especially to international visitors,” she said in a statement.
“The uptrend in infections throughout Sarawak now means we must tighten our quarantine measures on all entries. Put on hold any plans to reopen our borders fully.
Voon noted that the recent easing of entry into Sarawak and relaxation of public standard operating procedures during the Chinese New Year had resulted in a new cluster declared yesterday.
Two days ago, the state Disaster Management Committee announced that a Covid-19 cluster resulting from a Chinese New Year gathering had emerged in Kuching.
There were 17 people already found positive with the infections in the Kg Semeba cluster.
The committee said the infections were sparked off during a Chinese New Year dinner cum gathering in a house in that estate.
The index case has a history of travelling to Kuala Lumpur. He came back to Kuching on January 31 and had a family gathering on February 1.
“He was taken ill on February 5 during a health clinic check-up,” the committee said in a press statement.
Active tracing is being carried out among the residents in the affected area. – The Vibes, February 11, 2022
