TWENTY-SIX districts, all in rural Sarawak, have been declared “green zones”, safe from Covid-19 infections. 

These are areas that have not had a single Covid-19 case since the first positive case was detected in the state on March 13, Deputy Chief Minister Douglas Uggah said today. 

In his daily news briefing on the pandemic at Wisma Bapa Malaysia, he said depending on developments in each of the district in the coming days, restrictions on movement under the movement control order could be relaxed.

In the meantime, Uggah, who chairs the state Disaster Management Committee, said the ban on travel from one district to another would not only stay but tightened further “to make sure these areas stay green”. 

The inter-district travel ban was imposed last Sunday but exemptions have been given to those who are on official duty, workers in essential services, death of a close relative, family members of a seriously ill person, and those on mandatory medical checkup.

The 26 districts are Bau, Lundu, Asajaya, Saratok, Pusa, Kabong, Maradong, Julau, Pakan, Kanowit, Selangau, Tatau, Sebauh, Dalat, Daro, Tanjung Manis, Marudi, Subis, Beluru, Telang Usan, Kapit, Belaga, Song, Bukit Mabong, Lubok Antu and Tebedu.

Thirteen districts are in the orange zone – positive cases of between one and 40 - while Kuching, which has 118 positive cases until today, is the only area in the red zone.

There were no deaths reported today but the number of positive cases detected continue to spike.

A total of 32 cases were recorded today, compared to 21 yesterday. 

Of the new cases detected, only one was from Samarahan with the rest from Kuching.

Uggah said they have all been warded at the Sarawak General Hospital for isolation and treatment. 

With the 32, the number of people infected has risen to 188, with eight deaths. 

Uggah said the majority of the positive cases were detected from people who had gone to the youth and sports complex for screening.

He said since March 21, when the screening was shifted there, 2,228 people had gotten themselves tested, with 1,160 samples taken. 

Forty-nine tested positive, 771 negative with the remaining 340 awaiting their test results. 

Uggah also appealed to everyone in Kuching to go for the screening, particularly those who have come in contact with those infected. – April 1, 2020.