BINTULU: The reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rT-PCR) screening test for entry and transit in Bintulu district has been extended until Apr 27. The screening requirement was supposed to end today.
Bintulu Division Resident Jack Aman Luat said the Divisional Disaster Management Committee (DDMC) decided to extend the screening test period simultaneously with the CMCO and the tightened standard operating procedures (SOP) effective April 14 to 27.
“The extension is to reduce Covid-19 infection and not to inconvenience the community,” he said at a press conference today.
He pointed out that the implementation of the screening test had succeeded in reducing movements of people from other areas into Bintulu.
“This is one of our ways to reduce movements between zones,” he said.
To control the Covid-19 pandemic, Aman said the DDMC had divided Bintulu into 36 Zones.
He noted that positive cases were still increasing. Hence, Bintulu DDMC would tighten the standard operating procedures (SOPs) in order to contain the pandemic.
“Among the methods or approaches taken is to hold roadblocks in four locations from April 17 to 27,” he explained.
The four locations are at Jalan Sebiew, Jalan Tun Hussein Onn, Jalan Persimpangan Stadium Muhibbah and Jalan Tanjung Batu.
“Social events involving large gatherings such as wedding ceremonies, engagements, receptions, prayers, akikah, tahlil, birthday celebrations, reunions, retreats, family days, corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes are not allowed in the meantime.
“We have instructed that in the event of a funeral or unavoidable event, the relevant parties or tribal leaders in the area must report the ceremony to the district office or the police so that police personnel can be deployed to the scene.
“What is important to curb this pandemic is to just sit at home if there is no important business to attend to,” he said.
Meanwhile, he called on the community in Bintulu to adhere to the tightened SOP.
“We will inform the community if there is a change, we are also listening to complaints from the community but what is important now is to reduce the spread of this disease,” he added.
