SARAWAK is now allowing foreigners, who have been in the country for 30 continuous days, to enter the state without having to undergo the 14-day Covid-19 quarantine.

Deputy Chief Minister Douglas Uggah Embas said they must, however, seek the permission of the state’s disaster management committee (SDMC) first before entering the state.

Uggah, who chairs the committee, said during his Covid-19 briefing in Kuching today that the permission could be sought online at the SDMC’s website.

Meanwhile, he said cinemas can now reopen and the guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOP) are available at the state local government and housing ministry website.

Sarawak has not had a new Covid-19 infection for three days now.

The last was on Sunday, that of a 32-year-old man who had returned from London on June 17.

He then took a flight the next day straight home to Sibu from KLIA. While undergoing the mandatory quarantine at a local hotel, he was tested positive for the Covid-19.

Uggah also said SDMC is now “in the final phase” of its engagement with community leaders throughout the state “to educate them” on their role in policing their community in relation to the spread of the Covid-19.

He said the villages’ security and community advancement committee (JKKK) has the power to ensure members of their community comply with all the health guidelines and SOP.

If people refuse to comply for any reason, the JKKK can seek police assistance to compel them, Uggah said.

He said even though nearly all of the state’s rural areas are green zones with zero infections, compliance is paramount as “we have not won the war yet”.

“We must remember whatever social activities they have, they must comply with the set guidelines because some of those who are present could have come from areas which still have cases.

“Now is not the time for us to take risks, though you can see our curve has flattened. We must not be too complacent.

“We have not won the war but we have positive indications that we are on the right track.” – July 1, 2020.