THE current epicentre of the Covid-19 epidemic in Sarawak, Kg Haji Baki, which is 10km from Kuching city, will be placed under the enhanced movement-control order (EMCO) from 6pm tomorrow until midnight November 10.

The order by the state disaster management committee makes the village the first infected area in the state to come under EMCO, which totally restricts all movement in and out of the village.

The state’s 12 new cases reported today came from this village.

The infected are aged seven to 75, and all had close contact with people who are Covid-19 positive from the Baki cluster, which is one of two clusters in the village. The other cluster is Bah Arnab.

In the last 14 days, the village also accounted for 25 out of 49 active cases in the Kuching district. 

State disaster management committee chairman Douglas Uggah in his press conference on the epidemic this afternoon, said three of the 12 cases today were primary school pupils, two secondary school students, five adults and two senior citizens.

Uggah described them as “immediate members” of the family of the index case – a health technician with a company contracted to a city hospital – their “close neighbours” and colleagues of the index case.

They have all been warded at the Sarawak General Hospital for isolation and treatment.

Uggah said with a 24-hour curfew in place during the EMCO, the 4,200 residents of the village of 500 houses cannot step out of their homes unless there is an emergency.

All mosques, surau and schools within the confines of the EMCO area are also closed, and all businesses, as well as religious, social, recreational and cultural activities are banned.

The state government will distribute food to the villagers.

Uggah, who is also Sarawak deputy chief minister, said the National Security Council chaired by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had sanctioned the decision.

Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob this afternoon also announced the lockdown on Kg Haji Baki.

In the two weeks of the lockdown, Uggah said active case detection will be undertaken to screen all villagers for Covid-19.

Meanwhile, the committee has also ordered all entertainment outlets, including reflexology centres, in the Kuching district closed from tomorrow until further notice. – October 27, 2020.