KUCHING: Enforcement agencies play an important role in taking disciplinary action against social gathering organisers who do not abide by the existing standard operating procedures (SOPs).
The State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) said since the beginning of the year until now, social or public gathering is the main factor behind the spike in positive Covid-19 cases throughout the state.
“Since Jan this year, a total of 59 clusters in the state involve social gatherings. Authorities have worked tirelessly to screen a total of 71,545 people of which 7,305 of them tested positive and 40 cases of fatality.
“Among the highest number of positive cases that were reported involve funeral gatherings, whereby eight clusters were declared. A total of 46,856 people were screened of which 3,595 of them tested positive and 30 deaths were recorded,” it said.
It added that 32 clusters throughout the state involve weddings, festive season gatherings, gotong-royong events, birthday and farewell parties, cockfights and others, whereby 1,928 people were found positive and five deaths were recorded.
“SDMC would like to emphasise that we know it is hard to avoid social gatherings after being under the control order for so long but the public should know that the consequences of it would be devastating.
“Members of the public need to advise one another to avoid social gatherings to curb the spread of Covid-19,” it said.
Meanwhile, the SDMC said social gatherings such as wedding and engagement ceremonies, receptions, aqiqah (welcoming) ceremonies, prayers, tahlil (prayer for deceased) birthday celebrations, reunions, retreats and others are allowed for green and yellow zones only.
The gatherings in these zones are limited to 300 participants or 50 percent of the maximum number of people in the venue halls.
