TWO Penan settlements in Telang Usan in Baram, Sarawak, are subject to enhanced movement control order (EMCO) after 21 villagers tested positive for Covid-19.

The state disaster management committee said the settlements were at Long Lunyim and Long Tepen, some five hours by road from Miri, through Long Lama.

The disaster committee said 40 more people from the settlement are to be tested.

They have all been taken to Miri Hospital or kept in isolation at the Miri Covid-19 quarantine and low risk treatment centre (PKRC).

The Long Lunyim cluster is one of two the state Health Department reported today. The other is at Sungai Long Seripa in Sebauh, Bintulu.

A 54-year-old woman from Long Luteng, a settlement about a 10-hour drive from Miri, was the first Penan to be infected with the virus that has killed 389 people in Sarawak to date.

She was brought to Miri Hospital on June 10 and tested after falling sick.

Since then, positive cases have now been detected among Penans from Long Kevok, Long Latie and Long Layun.

Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau, said the virus was brought to Baram through the movement of people.

Last Tuesday, the Health Department transported about 100 people from Long Bedian, Long Kevok, Long Latie and Long Luteng to Miri to be quarantined as close contacts.

Ngau had last week said he feared the pandemic was just beginning to spread in Baram.

“I’m not sure if this group is the last,” Ngau told The Malaysian Insight.

“There could be some more,” he added.

The Penan population in the Telang Usan constituency is estimated to be between 12,000 and 14,000 in 33 villages. – June 22, 2021.