MIRI – Sarawak has registered 426 new Covid-19 cases today – a record-high – raising the alarm for urgent action to be taken to curb the spread of the coronavirus in the state.
The last highest daily tally was on March 4, when 361 fresh infections were recorded, with 89 in Miri alone.
State Disaster Management Committee chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said there are two new Covid-19 fatalities at Sibu Hospital today, bringing the death toll in the state to 103.
“The latest deaths involve two men, aged 63 and 77, respectively.
“There are 426 new cases statewide, including 203 in Serian, where illegal immigrants in the Semuja detention centre are believed to have spread the virus.
“The Covid-19 situation in Sarawak is very serious. Due to a lack of social distancing and personal hygiene, and negligence in using face masks, we are seeing a rise in daily cases.
“There is also a lackadaisical attitude towards standard operating procedures. That is why public activities and social gatherings continue to contribute to fresh infections.”
There are 32 active clusters in the state.
Uggah said state authorities are doing their best to speed up the Covid-19 immunisation programme in both urban and rural areas.
“We are also getting companies to register their employees for the vaccination.”
Out of the 426 new cases today, Serian recorded the highest number with 203 infections, followed by Bintulu (72), Kuching (41), Sibu (31), Miri (21), Samarahan (13) and Julau (11), while other districts have fewer than 10 cases each. – The Vibes, March 28, 2021