Kuching a red zone

KUCHING: The 118 positive Covid-19 cases recorded in Kuching have resulted in the district being listed as a coronavirus red zone by the National Security Council (NSC), said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah.

He said a council meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Tuesday had categorised Sarawak into three zones – red, orange and green – with Kuching being the state’s only red zone.

“Areas with more than 40 cases will be designated as red zones while areas with one to 40 cases are categorised as orange zones. Green zones are areas with no Covid-19 cases.

“Under the orange zone, Kota Samarahan has the highest number of cases with 20 followed by Miri (11), Betong (9), Sarikei (6), Limbang (6), Bintulu (5), Serian (4), Sibu (4), and Simunjan, Sri Aman, Mukah, Matu and Lawas with one each,” he told a press conference at Wisma Bapa Malaysia, here yesterday.

Sarawak registered 32 new Covid-19 infections yesterday – 31 of them in Kuching – bringing the state’s total number of positive cases to 188.

Uggah, who is also State Disaster Management Committee chairman, also disclosed that areas listed as green zones were Bau, Lundu, Asajaya, Saratok, Pusa, Kabong, Maradong, Julau, Pakan, Kanowit, Selangau, Tatau, Sebauh, Dalat, Daro, Tanjung Manis, Marudi, Subis, Beluru, Telang Usan, Kapit, Belaga, Song, Bukit Mabong, Lubok Antu and Tebedu.

“We call on everyone to play their role in ensuring that the green zone remains green.

“It is also one of the reasons why we imposed an inter-district travel restriction and if possible, we will further tighten this restriction so that we will be able to maintain those areas that I’ve mentioned earlier as green zones,” he said.

Uggah said if the people cooperated to ensure that their areas remained free from Covid19, the government will discuss on whether these green zones “can be more relaxed”.

“The same also applies for areas which fall under the red zone. We will decide what to do (if the situation improves),” he added.

He said standard operating procedures (SOP) have been laid out by the NSC and that the State Disaster Management Committee will study the SOP.

“The bottom line is for areas which are red zone, we want them to eventually turn orange and then green; for orange zones to become green; and for green zones to remain green.

“But I must emphasise that this needs the cooperation of everyone so please stay at home,” he stressed.

In addition to carrying out disinfection exercises and controlling the movement of people, Uggah said the government is also considering imposing an enhanced MCO on certain areas which have high infection cases.

“Like in Kuala Lumpur, they decided to impose enhanced MCO on some areas so that whatever happens in the red zone will not overflow to other areas.

“In other words, we want to cut the flow of this virus to other areas. That is why compliance to inter-district travel is very important,” he said.