SARAWAK has made it mandatory for village development and security committees (JKKK) to report any deaths in private homes, longhouses or villages within their jurisdiction to the nearest police station or district office.

The state’s disaster management committee said the rule comes into force tomorrow.

Longhouse or rural village funerals have been a major source of the spread of Covid-19 infections in the state.

Today, the committee quarantined five longhouses and the workers’ quarters in two plantations, subject to the enhanced movement control order (EMCO) after cases were detected.

JKKKs have also been given the authority to ensure that standard operating procedures for funerals are obeyed.

They can control the activities and movement of people attending funerals and to “take other safety measures” to curb the spread of the Covid-19.

The disaster committee said the restriction to only have 30 close family members attend the wake, burial and post burial ceremonies still stands.

Children under 12 and those who have not been vaccinated are still barred from attending any of the funeral ceremonies.

On the reopening of churches, temples and other non-Muslim houses of worship, the disaster committee said they are allowed to reopen on the condition that the priests, monks or prayer leaders have completed their vaccination at least two weeks before the reopening.

The houses of worship are allowed to open from 6am to 8pm with a 50% capacity or 50 worshippers, whichever is fewer.

For wedding receptions at home, only 25 people are allowed to attend.

Sarawak yesterday reported 461 new cases with Kuching recording 184 new infections.

Most of Kuching’s cases were people already in quarantine and exposed to an infected person in a previous screening, according to the disaster committee.

Sarawak also reported three deaths today: a 91 year-old woman in Bintulu, a 61 year-old woman and a 59 year-old man in Sibu. – July 23, 2021.