By Ling Hui
KUCHING, Jan 10: A total of 2,059 residents in 19 longhouses in the Tamin constituency underwent Covid-19 swab test being conducted by the State Health Department.
The Covid-19 swab test was part of the active case detection (ACD) exercise to identify Covid-19 positive cases in view of the outbreak in Pasai Siong longhouse in Sibu yesterday.
Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Bawang Assan branch chairman Senator Robert Lau confirmed that a mass Covid-19 testing was being carried out.
He acknowledged that the figure which was viral on a social media platform about 2,059 residents being screened for Covid-19 is true.
“The Covid-19 swab test were conducted on eight longhouses yesterday.
“There were 11 longhouses which are undergoing the Covid-19 swab test today,” he told DayakDaily via telephone interview today.
Yesterday, 37 new cases of Covid-19 were detected at the Langi Longhouse at Pasai Siong, Sibu.
The information was revealed by the Divisional Disaster Management Committee (DDMC) in Sibu, adding that the cases were identified following close contact of Case 1,175 reported on Jan 7.
The committee said the index case was a local woman who returned from Johor to Kuching through Kuala Lumpur International Airport and then flew back to Sibu to attend her father’s funeral.
Lau added, “The news of 37 positive cases from a longhouse at Pasai Siong, Sibu was a shock to the people here.
“It happened when the people started to let their guard down an in this particular case, the home quarantine did not work.
“This was what was most feared when home quarantine was allowed for Sibu due to lack of hotels in Sibu willing to open up as quarantine centres,” he said.
Going forward, Lau advised all the residents of the longhouses to follow the instruction and comply with all directives issued by the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC).
At the same time, he urges the public not to speculate and spread fake news.
“Check and verify with official sources on any news.
“Do not share in social media if you are not certain of the source and the veracity of the content.
“It is not the time to panic,” he stressed.
Lau also reminded the people to comply with the standard operating procedure (SOP) and not take things for granted. —DayakDaily
