MIRI – Many Sarawakians are taking to social media platforms and chat groups to call for the state to reimpose the movement control order (MCO) following the 555 new Covid-19 cases and three deaths logged yesterday.
Since the daily infection numbers were revealed yesterday, many in Sarawak are worried that the state’s current conditional MCO – which has been extended to April 26 – is not sufficient to curb new infections.
“The situation is getting worse and worse, what are the policymakers waiting for? It is obvious the only way to stop the spread is another full-scale MCO,” said Aizam Ali.
Another local, Alven Yap, said the state must impose a total lockdown for at least two months to see an effective drop in numbers.
“MCO for only two weeks is not enough. We must have a total lockdown for two months at least.”
Meanwhile, Ainley Daud said state politicians must be courageous to make the most radical decision possible if they want to halt the spread of Covid-19.
“Sarawak needs a full MCO right now.”
Yesterday, state Disaster Management Committee chairman Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas, who is also deputy chief minister, had slammed Sarawakians for continuing to defy SOPs, despite the rising number of cases.
“Sarawakians must be warned. This situation (we are in) now is because they refuse to obey SOPs that are in place.
“If they continue like this, it will get even worse,” he had said at a press conference in his Kuching office yesterday.
As of yesterday, the death toll in Sarawak to the virus stands at 120 while cumulative infections have breached 19,000 cases.
Yesterday’s fatalities involved a 68-year-old local woman in Bintulu Hospital, a 43-year-old Filipino man in Sebauh near here and a 42-year-old local man in Sibu Hospital.
Douglas said the committee has already tightened several SOPs.
Among them are that longhouse chiefs and community leaders must seek permission from district officers before any social activity can take place in their areas, including funerals.
The directive also applies to districts with few or no Covid-19 cases.
“There are only five districts in Sarawak without no Covid-19 infections over a span of 14 days. The rest of the 35 districts have been detecting infections.”
He said the SOPs for congregational prayers during the coming Ramadan month will be tightened.
“We are working with the religious councils on these SOPs.”
Sibu, Bintulu, Miri and Kuching districts are the worst-hit urban zones in Sarawak while Sri Aman, Meradong, Kapit and Sarikei are among the badly affected rural districts.
There are now 45 active clusters statewide. Last week, all social activities in red and orange zones were banned. – The Vibes, April 10, 2021
