THE emergence of a new Covid-19 cluster in Sarawak comes as the state lifts more movement restrictions, including allowing gatherings for up to 100 people.

The new positive case involving an Indonesian contract worker today saw chairman of the state disaster management committee, Douglas Uggah, telling reporters he had the jitters.

However, Uggah said the state had done enough to flatten the pandemic’s curve so that restrictions can be safely lifted on several activities.

The worker is the second Indonesian to test positive for the virus among workers at a construction site in Sg Moyan, Batu Kawa, just outside Kuching.

He was infected after coming into close contact with a fellow countryman who tested positive on June 7.

“I am not comfortable (with the new positive case) but we have done enough to lift the restrictions (that were put in place during the MCO).

From tomorrow, the state is lifting inter-district travel restrictions for all Malaysians in Sarawak. No police permits will be required for travellers.

Businesses previously restricted to certain operation hours under the MCO can now operate at their pre-MCO times.

The state is also allowing any type of public gathering of up to 100 people from tomorrow, he added.

Uggah also said the requirement to have a Covid-19 test three days before entering Sarawak by all Malaysians is no longer needed.

“All Malaysians from the peninsula, Sabah and Labuan are allowed to enter the state without having to apply for a travel permit from the state Disaster Management Committee and do not have to take the PCR test three days before flying.”

Nonetheless, Uggah said some standard operating procedures still had to be complied with.

He said travellers must download the MySejahtera app and fill in the E-Health Declaration form that can be downloaded from the committee’s website.

Uggah said samples for PCR testing would also be taken randomly from incoming visitors.

The 14-day quarantine for all Sarawakians returning from overseas is still in place.

They will be quarantined in selected hotels with a sample taken on day 10 for testing.

Other Malaysians with a history of overseas travel in the past month will be similarly quarantined upon arrival in the state. – June 9, 2020.