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KUCHING: Sarawak will extend its current entry restrictions for travelers from Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia until November 15 in light of the current increase in Covid-19, says Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah (Photo).
The chief deputy minister said the decision was made by the state cabinet at its meeting on Thursday (October 15).
“Looking at the triple-digit increase in cases in Sabah yesterday (October 14) and the high number on the peninsula, the Cabinet considers that the Sarawak entry standard operating procedures (SOPs) that we are implementing from October 4 to 18 October should be extended until November 15th.
“We are taking this step to protect Sarawak and curb the spread of cases from outside the state,” he told the state disaster management committee briefing here on Thursday (October 15).
The restrictions include an entry ban for non-Sarawakians from Sabah and Labuan, while all arrivals from Peninsular Malaysia must undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine at designated quarantine centers.
The mandatory quarantine requirement for arrivals from abroad remains in effect.
Uggah also expressed concern that two of the four new Covid-19 cases reported in Sarawak on Thursday involved Indonesians who entered the state illegally on October 12.
He said they went for a Covid-19 screening on Wednesday (October 14) before starting work and returned positive results the same day.
They are both asymptomatic and have been admitted to the Sarawak General Hospital.
“We were informed that they entered via ‘jalan tikus’ (illegal routes) in Lundu. This is a worrying fact.
“We are concerned that if they entered Sarawak illegally, they would not have undergone any health exams or the mandatory 14-day quarantine.”
“These are important steps to ensure that those who enter Sarawak are healthy,” Uggah said.
He said border control was being stepped up as announced Wednesday to curb illegal entry.
“Today the committee met with relevant agencies to further strengthen border control,” he said.
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