By Karen Bong
SIBU, Feb 25: Nearly 50 per cent or 85 out of 181 Covid-19 cases reported in Sibu yesterday (Feb 24) were detected in 19 zones under Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) jurisdiction with cases concentrated in Tiong Hua and Sentosa with 19 cases each.
As such, the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) will announce today on further measures to be implemented in Tiong Hua and Sentosa as well as Sibu Jaya zones which have been identified as the epicentres of Covid-19 spread in Sibu.
Sibu Divisional Disaster Management Committee (SIBU DDMC) chairman Dr Annuar Rapaee revealed that they will make recommendations on the measures to be taken in order to curb and bring down cases in Sibu.
“We will make the decisions on necessary steps to take especially for these three zones and they will be announced tomorrow (today),” he said during a Facebook live session to update on the Covid-19 situation in Sibu yesterday (Feb 24).
Dr Annuar, who is also Assistant Minister for Local Government and Housing, pointed out that the cases were concentrated in Tiong Hua and Sentosa with 19 cases each.
“As for Tiong Hua or Zone 7, the more ACD (active case detection) were conducted, the more cases were picked up. So we need to do something about it because cases have continued to increase,” he explained.
He added that over 1,000 people turned up for the ACD operation in Sentosa or Zone 15 recently in which 19 cases were found positive yesterday (Feb 24) concentrated at Phase two of the residential area.
The 19 cases were detected at Lorong Sentosa 3C (1 case), Lorong Sentosa 6 (1 case), Lorong Sentosa Timur 3A (7 cases), Lorong Sentosa Timur 3B (2 cases), Lorong Sentosa Timur 4 (1 case), Lorong Sentosa Utara 7 (6 cases) and Lorong Sentosa Utara 8A (1 case).
The remaining 17 zones which recorded increase in cases were Farley (9 cases); Tunku Abd Rahman (6 cases); Ulu Sg Merah A (5 cases); Tong Sang and Pulau Lihua (3 cases each); Permai, Indah and Aup (2 cases each); while Sukun/Lada, Mantis, Poh Yew, Pusat Bandar, Awg Ramli Amit, Kpg Dato, Delta, Sg Antu and Bahagia Jaya with one case each.
As for Sibu Jaya which reported a total of 50 cases yesterday, Dr Annuar pointed out that Sibujaya Flat accounted for 17 cases concentrated in Block R (9 cases) while Blocks C, K, L, Q, S and T each reported between one to two cases.
“As such the area which is currently still under lockdown is not safe yet as more cases could be picked up from the second swab in the community.
“So please don’t go out of the house if it’s unnecessary or visit the next door neighbour,” he advised.
Other areas under Sibu Jaya which saw an increase in cases were Townville (10 cases), Terrace B (8 cases), Terrace E (4 cases), Pearl Avenue (3 cases), KK Sibu Jaya (2 cases) and one case each in Coral Avenue, Taman Kristal, Commercial Centre, Terrace A and Terrace G.
There were also 46 cases reported in five zones under Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC) with Bawang Assan topping the list of daily infections detected at Rh Saing with 34 cases.
“The longhouse has been placed under lockdown,” he said.
Three cases were detected in Bougainvilla, Rh Gelau and Rh Asin respectively under Pasai Siong/Oya zone; Rh Changgieng under Durin/Naman zone (2 cases); Paradom and Pulau Kerto under KJD/Assan zone (4 cases); as well as Rh Munang and Sg Sadit under Batang Igan zone (3 cases).
“There is still a long way to go for Sibu but we will work harder as we will not stop or surrender.
“So I want to urge all Sibu people to fight on all the way until we successfully get out of the situation. For now, we must observe SOP (standard operating procedures) and get tested if needed,” he called on. — DayakDaily
