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KUCHING: Sarawak reported 55 new cases of Covid-19 on Saturday (Jan 9), the highest daily number since the pandemic began, bringing the state’s count to 1,251 cases.
The previous daily high was 32 cases on April 1 of last year.
Of today’s total, 37 are tied to the new Pasai cluster in Sibu, which involves local residents aged 11 months to 79 years.
They were tested during an active case-finding operation at a longhouse after the index case, who was asked to self-quarantine at the longhouse after returning from Johor, tested positive on January 7.
“All these cases have been admitted to Sibu Hospital for treatment. Contact tracing, as well as control and prevention measures are being carried out,” the committee said Saturday.
He said the Sibu divisional disaster management committee was enforcing movement control on eight affected longhouses in Sibu.
“The Department of Health will carry out the detection of Covid-19 starting Saturday, while the police have placed a roadblock at the junction that leads to the longhouses.
“Food and health facilities will be provided to the affected longhouses,” he said, adding that the Sibu district was now an orange zone with 39 local broadcasts in the last 14 days.
The committee also said that 15 new cases were reported in Kuching, two in Miri and one in Bintulu.
Of the Kuching cases, one was linked to the Keranji Tabuan group and eight to the Stutong group.
Kuching district remained an orange zone with 36 cases transmitted locally in the last 14 days, while Samarahan, Miri, Bintulu, Meradong, Bukit Mabong and Sri Aman were yellow zones with a total of 17 local transmissions.
The orange areas are districts with 21 to 40 cases transmitted locally in the last 14 days, the yellow areas from one to 20 cases and the green areas with zero cases.
Districts with 41 or more local broadcasts are classified as red zones.
Meanwhile, Sarawak Health Director Dr. Chin Zin Hing warned that the state’s health system would be overburdened if the current spread of Covid-19 was not curbed.
He said the state is facing a growing number of cases and that Kuching is likely to turn into a red zone soon, while other districts have turned yellow or orange.
“If we are not careful, our healthcare system will be overwhelmed, just like what is happening now in Peninsular Malaysia. We do not want this to happen in Sarawak,” he said on Saturday.
Dr. Chin said that current cases show that Covid-19 is spreading in the community, with previously saved districts like Sri Aman, Betong, Kapit and Lawas being affected now as well.
“Those who work in the community bring Covid-19 to their family. In addition, friends infect each other through social gatherings,” he said.
Dr. Chin urged the public to strictly adhere to standard operating procedures (SOPs), including physical distancing, and to postpone face-to-face meetings or unnecessary travel at this time.
He also recommended that those who feel bad get tested for Covid-19 and isolate themselves at home.
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