MIRI – Thirteen individuals have been apprehended for breaching orders to not engage in social activities in red and orange zones, after they were caught at a happy-hour gathering in Sibu.
The arrests came less than 24 hours after state authorities banned all social gatherings in high-risk districts as of yesterday evening.
In a statement today, the state Disaster Management Committee secretariat said: “Sibu police have arrested 13 people for holding an illegal activity at a barbecue bistro in town.”
Sarawak has 225 new Covid-19 cases, making it the state with the second highest number of daily infections today. It also has 39 active clusters.
Bintulu and Samarahan both lead with 43 cases each today, followed by Sibu (39), Miri (24), Julau (12) and Sebauh (10), while other districts have fewer than 10 cases.
The state’s death toll remains at 114.
Yesterday, it was reported that social events – such as funerals, weddings, festival celebrations, community gotong-royong and cockfighting – have caused 59 coronavirus clusters, and contributed to 40 deaths and 7,305 cases in Sarawak (out of 114 fatalities and 17,000 infections, so far).
Certain events, such as funerals, must have permits from the respective district offices before they are allowed to take place.
Red-zone districts in the state are Sibu, Miri, Bintulu, Kapit, Kuching, Meradong, Julau, Serian, Samarahan, Beluru and Sarikei, while orange zones are Marudi, Sri Aman and Kanowit. – The Vibes, April 5, 2021
