By Adrian Lim
KUCHING, March 22: There were more than 500 locations throughout Sarawak which have been placed under lockdown since the Covid-19 pandemic started last year.
These include Kampung Haji Baki, Kampung Sungai Maong, Kampung Emperoh Jambu, Kampung Bintawa Ulu and Kampung Bintawa Tengah here.
Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said the Welfare Department has been delivering food aid to residents under lockdown in Sarawak throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
“There were approximately 580 villages and longhouses under lockdown.
“From our record in the Social Welfare Department, we have provided food aid to 500 locations under lockdown throughout the state.
“It includes Sungai Ud in my (Dalat) constituency as well and also to longhouses and villages,” she said during a press conference after visiting Kampung Bintawa Ulu and Kampung Bintawa Tengah here today.
Fatimah disclosed that there were 50 positive Covid-19 cases identified by the State Health Department from the two villages, and that a total of 3,757 samples have been taken for testing from March 17 to 21, with the second Covid-19 swab test to be conducted on Thursday (March 25).
There are a total of 4,064 residents in the two villages under lockdown from March 16 to 29 following Covid-19 cases reported on March 15.
On another note, Fatimah pointed out that efforts were also taken to ensure tight security at lockdown areas to prevent villagers from sneaking out through rat trails and via other methods such as river transportation.
She revealed that personnel from the Marine Department have also been roped in to ensure that residents in Kampung Bintawa Tengah and Kampung Bintawa Ulu do not escape using the river during lockdown.
Meanwhile, Fatimah said the state government has spent RM9.07 million for the distribution of food aid to all the residents under lockdown in Sarawak and RM392,200 for Kampung Bintawa Tengah and Kampung Bintawa Ulu. — DayakDaily
