KUCHING: Sarawak Health Department (JKNS) will be stepping up surveillance at detention depots and prisons statewide, said State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
He said the decision was made today (March 18) after 99 positive cases were detected at Semuja Immigration Detention Depot in Serian.
“Sarawak has two immigration detention depots, namely, Semuja Immigration Depot in Serian with 463 detainees and Bekenu Immigration Depot in Miri with 521 detainees.
“Meanwhile, there are six prisons statewide with 3,460 inmates comprising 3,268 males and 192 females,” he told the daily Covid-19 press conference here today (March 18).
The six prisons are Puncak Borneo Prison in Kuching with 1,210 inmates, Miri Central Prison (566), Sibu Central Prison (559), Limbang Prison (428), Sri Aman Central Prison (407) and Bintulu Correctional Centre (290).
Uggah reminded Sarawakians to be vigilant and to adhere to the standard operating procedures (SOPs) set by the government to curb the spread of Covid-19.
“Previously, we had successfully flattened the Covid-19 curve in the first wave, second wave and third wave because we worked together in complying with the SOPs and avoid social gatherings.
“Therefore, for the government to reduce the infection rate and for us to succeed in flattening the curve again, we need the collaboration, understanding, commitment and sacrifices of everyone,” he said.
Uggah added that the hike in compound rate to RM10,000 was implemented by the government to enhance compliance towards SOPs among the people.
“As I have mentioned previously, we want to comply with the SOPs not because we are scared of being compounded, but because we want to be healthy.
“If everyone is healthy, we will be able to return to our normal lives before the Covid-19 pandemic. We can do it as long as we are prepared to make sacrifices and follow the SOPs,” he added.
Today, Uggah also witnessed the handing over of 150,000 face masks for Sarawakian frontliners donated by the Chinese Consulate in Kuching.
