588 new cases – 106 in Kuching alone
KUCHING: Sarawak recorded 588 new positive Covid-19 cases on Wednesday (June 2), bringing the state’s tally to 48,620. The Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) in a statement today (June 2) said 284 of these cases, or 48.3 percent, were detected in the districts of Kuching, Miri, Sarikei, and Sibu. A total of 106 cases were recorded in Kuching District, Miri (67), Sarikei (61), Sibu (50), Samarahan (41), Tatau (38), Bintulu (35), Selangau (24), Asajaya (23), Sri Aman (22), Kapit (21), Bau (18), Beluru (11), Simunjan (11), Kanowit (10), Betong (seven), Pakan and Marudi (six each), Pusa, Subis and Dalat (five each), Meradong and Mukah (four each), Serian and Lundu (three each), and Sebauh (two). “Of the 588 new cases reported, 70 people exhibited signs and symptoms of Covid-19 infection during screening,” SDMC said, adding 481 individuals were those who had been issued quarantine orders. On the overall breakdown of the new cases, 393 were persons who had contact with positive Covid-19 cases, 88 were linked to existing active clusters, 58 were from other screenings at health facilities, and 49 were from symptomatic individual screenings at health facilities. “Today (June 2), 427 new cases have recovered and been discharged,” SDMC added. The committee said 94 of these cases were discharged from Bintulu Hospital and Quarantine and Low-Risk Treatment Centre (PKRC), Sibu Hospital and PKRC (88), Sarawak General Hospital and PKRC (85), Miri Hospital and PKRC (79), Sarikei Hospital and PKRC (25), Kapit Hospital and PKRC (24), Betong PKRC (11), Mukah PKRC and Sri Aman Hospital and PKRC (nine each), Serian PKRC (two), and Lawas PKRC (one). “This brings the number of recovered and discharged cases thus far to 39,750 or 81.76 percent of the total number of Covid-19 cases in Sarawak,” SDMC said. There are still 8,456 active cases being isolated and treated at hospital wards and PKRCs throughout the state. “A total of 588 new persons-under-investigation (PUIs) have been reported and no PUIs are awaiting laboratory test results,” said SDMC.
Masing proposes more PKRCs to treat Covid patients
KUCHING: Sarawak should establish Quarantine and Low-Risk Treatment Centres (PKRCs) in areas with rising positive Covid-19 cases, said Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing. “Kapit Division will soon be running out of Covid-19 facilities if the present trend of Covid-19 is still rising. “Dewan Suarah and Indoor Stadium are used for those who are Covid-19 positive. At any one time, there are on average 130 positive cases per day in Kapit. PUI (persons under investigation) are placed at Asrama Belia and Rumah Temuai. “The more serious cases are placed in Kapit General Hospital. Kapit Hospital is now also full,” he said in a statement today (June 2). The Baleh assemblyman said both Dewan Suarah and Indoor Stadium in Kapit will also run out of space for Covid-19 positive cases soon. To resolve the issue, he stressed that PKRCs should be built in Kapit, Bintulu, Miri, and other areas experiencing Covid-19 spikes. In Kapit, for instance, Masing said a PKRC should be built within the vicinity of Baleh Dam, where Covid-19 clusters had been found. “This will reduce the pressure on the use of Dewan Suarah for Covid-19 positive cases. In this way, we can isolate Covid-19 positive cases from non-Covid-19 positive cases. The chain of spread, therefore, can be cut,” he said. He said at the same time there should be a hard push for vaccinations to create sufficient herd immunity. “By building PKRCs and having an aggressive push for vaccinations, we are attacking Covid-19 on two fronts. In this way, we are in a better position to fight Covid-19 in a shorter time,” he said. Masing said that funds would be well-spent for the construction of PKRCs in red zone areas, pointing out that once Covid-19 is contained in the near future, the buildings could be used for other purposes.
703 Covid-19 cases on Gawai Day
KUCHING: Sarawak recorded 703 Covid-19 positive cases on Gawai Day (June 1), bringing the total number of positive cases in the state to 48,032. Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) said a total of 458 or 65.15 percent of the total cases detected were in Kuching, Bintulu and Miri districts. Kuching district recorded the highest number […]
800 roadblocks nationwide from June 1
PUTRAJAYA: There will be 800 roadblocks mounted nationwide once the total lockdown is enforced on June 1 compared to 600 currently, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said. He said 70,000 members of the police force and agencies under the Home Ministry will be on duty to ensure standard operating procedure (SOP) compliance during the […]
Sarawak records 726 new cases
KUCHING: Sarawak recorded 726 Covid-19 positive cases today (May 29), bringing the total number of positive cases in the state to 46,162. The Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC), in a statement, said that 430 or 59.23 percent of the total cases detected were in Kuching, Kapit, Sibu, Miri and Subis districts. Kuchng district recorded the […]
Sarawak dishes out special aid under BKSS 6.0
The following is a transcript of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg’s announcement of the state government’s sixth package of Bantuan Khas Sarawak involving 1.4 billion. The following is a transcript of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg’s announcement of the state government’s sisth package of Bantuan Khas Sarawak involving 1.4 […]
Rapid infectivity rates influence lockdown decision
“To date, a total of 2,552 people have died as a result of this pandemic and the number of deaths is increasing. The existence of new, more aggressive variants with high and rapid infectivity rates also influenced today’s decision,” the statement said. The MKN special session was chaired by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin […]
EMCO for two longhouses, primary school in Tanjung Manis
KUCHING: Two longhouses and a primary school in Tanjung Manis district will be placed under the enhanced movement control order (EMCO) effective on Thursday (May 27). The Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC), in a statement today, said that the EMCO would be enforced at Rh Isa Blone, Rh Ben Kuleng and SK Telok Gelam until […]
513 new cases bring state’s tally to 43,326
KUCHING: Sarawak recorded 513 Covid-19 positive cases today (May 25), bringing the state’s tally to 43,326. The Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) said 317 cases or 61.79 percent of the new cases were detected in Miri, Bintulu, Sibu, Samarahan, and Kuching districts. The districts that recorded cases today were Miri with 94 cases; Bintulu (81); […]
Call for total lockdown in Sarawak
KUCHING: The state government has been urged to make a firm and daring decision by enforcing a total lockdown in Sarawak in view of the current dire Covid-19 situation in the state. Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Kuching branch chairperson Datuk Lily Yong said this appeal is a result of the party’s consultation with the […]
