MIRI – Sarawak is mulling reintroducing the ban on dine-in in Bintulu and Sibu due to a surge in Covid-19 infections.
This is despite the two districts being under Phase 3 of the National Recovery Plan.
Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said his constituency has seen a spike in cases over the last few days.
“There are new cases being reported at commercial centres, housing estates, factories and industrial areas, as well as other workplaces,” he said on social media.
“If the situation is unsafe, social gatherings and dine-in should be stopped to contain the infection spread.”
Sibu Municipal Council chairman Clarence Ting said fresh infections have emerged throughout the district.
“There are new infections being found every day in every location – housing estates, workplaces, commercial centres and shopping areas. Dine-in may be banned again if the situation persists.
“We have seen more than 100 new infections daily in Sibu for the past few days. The latest situation is really worrying,” he said in his social media chats with residential groups today.
Sibu Central Market was yet again listed by the federal Health Ministry as a Covid-19 hotspot on August 24 following the detection of a slew of cases.
The double-storey market, which is the biggest wet and dry market in Sarawak, has about 1,000 stalls selling agricultural produce, meat and fish, as well as cooked food.
It is the second time this month that the market is designated as a virus hotspot.
On August 7, Ting asked the Sibu Disaster Management Committee to deploy its mobile vaccination bus to the market to provide walk-in vaccinations after the premises ended up on the hotspot list.
“The council is imposing a requirement that everyone who wants to enter any shopping area must be vaccinated with at least one dose.
“We are writing to all business operators to instruct them to check customers and traders for at least first-dose vaccination before allowing entry.”
Business operators in the district must also obtain Covid-19 vaccination certification from the municipal council before they can operate.
Sibu, Kuching, Bintulu and Miri are the worst-hit urban zones in Sarawak, which has seen 510 deaths and over 105,000 infections. – The Vibes, August 27, 2021
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