MIRI – Sarawak is seeing a surge of Covid-19 cases especially in Miri, Sri Aman and Meradong districts, as authorities consider whether to toughen punishment on scofflaws.
Cluster Sena today has 61 cases that were recorded in the Senadin housing estate in Miri district and two longhouses in Subis, 60km away from Miri. It is believed the index case was a woman who attended a mass gathering in the house and later in the longhouses.
The Jalan Main Bazaar cluster in Sri Aman involves 12 patients in the same family and some secondary school students, while the Buluh Pasi cluster in Meradong has 21 cases.
State Disaster Management Committee chairman Datuk Douglas Uggah Ebbas told a press conference in Kuching that active screenings are in progress to stamp infections in these clusters.
He said Sarawak is still deliberating whether to adopt the federal decision to increase the ceiling fine to RM10,000 for violations of public health standard operating procedures (SOPs).
He also said the state police have arrested 11 persons in Kuching for issuing fake coronavirus screening medical reports.
Meanwhile, Sarawak’s conditional movement control order (CMCO) has been extended to March 29.
“We are putting up new SOPs to control gatherings and movements of people, including in longhouses,” he said.
“Today, there are three new clusters and 173 new infections. No deaths were reported.”
Sibu district recorded a daily surge of 71 cases, followed by Bintulu (16), Miri (19), Kuching (15), Meradong (10) and other districts with fewer than 10.
There are 28 active clusters in the state.
Sibu Hospital today has 844 patients, followed by Miri Hospital (385). Sarawak General Hospital in Kuching (261), Bintulu Hospital (313), Kapit Hospital (160), Sarikei Hospital (113), Betong Hospital (197), Mukah Hospital (20) and Sri Aman Hospital (20). – The Vibes, March 12, 2021
