BINTULU, April 27: Bintulu District Disaster Management Committee (Bintulu DDMC) has proposed that residents of Bintulu also need to undergo Covid-19 swab tests prior to travelling to and from Bintulu.
Bintulu DDMC chairman Jack Aman Luat pointed out that they have submitted the proposal to the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) to impose compulsory swab tests on all Bintulu residents who intend to go on inter-zone or inter-district travels.
“We have imposed compulsory swab tests for members of the public who intend to enter Bintulu and this has proven to be effective in managing the Covid-19 positive cases from other divisions.
“In addition, Bintulu DDMC has also proposed to SDMC to implement compulsory Covid-19 swab tests on residents of Bintulu who want to go in and out of Bintulu,” he told a press conference after chairing the Committee’s daily meeting yesterday.
Jack, who is also Bintulu Division Resident, explained that this proposal was made in response to communities outside Bintulu who questioned as to why Bintulu communities were not required to undergo swab tests when they needed to cross to other zones and districts in Sarawak.
Meanwhile, he emphasised that Bintulu will continue to enforce a ban on movement in and out of the district except for essential services only including to comply with entry SOPs of mandatory Covid-19 swab tests, permission from the Health Department and having a police permit to enter Bintulu.
“This decision was made after taking into consideration that Bintulu is still a Covid-19 red zone and to stem the surge of infections.
“We are doing the best we can with tighter restrictions as Bintulu has been in the red zone and continues to be in the top three divisions with the highest number of daily infections. This is something that is not good and we must work harder to exit the situation,” he pointed out.
Bintulu Division Health Officer Dr Melvin Ching, Bintulu District Police Chief Supt Zulkipli Suhaili and Bintuly District Officer Muhammad Dino Amid were present at the meeting. — DayakDaily
