THE Sarawak government will only consider scrapping the 14-day compulsory quarantine for entry into the state if the Covid-19 situation improves, says Deputy Chief Minister Douglas Uggah Embas.

According to Uggah – the State Disaster Management Committee (JPBN) chairman – the number of Covid-19 positive cases is increasing in Sarawak, so if quarantine were to be terminated, it could worsen the situation.

He said that, besides facing the problem of daily transmissions, illegal immigrants crossing the Sarawak-Indonesia border was also a threat, contributing to the high number of daily infections.

“We understand and sympathise but we want Sarawakians to also understand the situation.

“In fact, this standard operating procedure is necessary to protect Sarawak, not to discriminate or to stop family members from meeting.

“This is a very difficult situation, but there will be a time when we feel that it’s no longer necessary…we will lift the quarantine,” he told reporters in Kuching today.

Earlier, a petition was made for the state government to scrap the 14-day compulsory quarantine.

The petition also stated that most Sarawakians had not been able to return to their families for a long time since the pandemic hit the country.

Today, Sarawak recorded 443 cases, bringing the cumulative number in the state to 20,001.

The state health department also announced three more new clusters: Abak Bon in Subis, Jalan Badarudin in Kuching and Nanga Kelangas in Julau. – Bernama, April 11, 2021.