SIBU: A total of 28 residents of Rumah Berendam Selia in Ulu Durin Kiba tested positive for Covid-19 last Saturday (March 6).
Sibu Division Disaster Management Committee (JPBBS) coordinator Dr Annuar Rapaee said Rumah Berendam was the latest longhouse in Sibu to be affected by the virus. The 28 cases were among 79 positive cases recorded in the district on Saturday.
“It is understood that the 28 cases that tested positive are from the 89 samples that have been collected from Rumah Berendam,” he said.
The Assistant Minister of Local Government and Housing believed that the index case is a resident of the longhouse.
“I will discuss with Sibu Health Officer Dr Teh Jo Hun whether to impose movement restrictions on the longhouse or bring the 61 remaining residents to the quarantine centre.
“We see which one is easier, but I think putting them into a quarantine centre is much better to reduce the chances of the remaining residents socialising so that the infection rate will be reduced,” said Dr Annuar, who is also Assistant Minister of Education, Science and Technology Research.
He said that preventing the villagers from socialising with each other was important as the 61 residents who tested negative might test positive during the second test.
“I was told that there was a possibility that the longhouse residents would be taken to a quarantine centre and I agreed with the proposal,” he explained.
The Nangka assemblyman urged the Iban community who wanted to return to their longhouses to ensure that they were not positive for Covid-19 so as not to cause an epidemic in their longhouses.
He also advised longhouse residents who want to go to town to strictly adhere to standard operating procedures (SOPs) and avoid contact with any positive case patients.
“I know at the moment, a lot of movement restrictions in longhouses have been lifted. You can go home.
“However, you must make sure that you are tested negative, just like longhouse residents who want to get out, always follow the SOPs, because if you are not careful, you will bring the virus back to your longhouse,” he explained.
