SIBU – A total of 116 out of 214 longhouses throughout Sarawak have had their Covid-19 lockdown restrictions lifted, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said.
He said it was lifted after no positive cases were recorded among occupants after their second swab test.
“Now we still have 98 longhouses under lockdown and we will continue to supply them with food aid,” said Uggah, who is also the chairman of the Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee, in a Facebook live stream session hosted by Sibu Municipal Council chairman Clarence Ting here today.
Of the 98 longhouses still under lockdown, 68 were located in Sibu division.
The longhouse headmen have already been given courses and advice on how to manage their longhouse folks during the Covid-19 outbreak.
“Unfortunately, I learnt that some of the longhouse dwellers refused to listen to the advice of their tuai rumah (longhouse headmen) and are alleging that the standard operating procedures (SOPs) are only causing uneasiness,” he said.
Uggah said some of the dwellers were reportedly still gathering around to socialise even though their longhouses are under lockdown, and this had caused the virus to spread among them.
“Please do stay at your own bilik (family rooms) for 14 days until the second swab test result declares you are Covid-19 negative. These SOPs are not meant to bring difficulties to you but to protect you from contracting the virus which could easily spread,” he said.
He also urged Dayak non-governmental organisations such as Sarawak Dayak National Union to play their part in disseminating information to contain the spread of Covid-19 among the community. – Bernama, February 18, 2021
