ALL of the restrictions that come with Sarawak’s inter-district travel ban which lasted nearly 18 months will be lifted from tomorrow.

A police permit is no longer required to cross district lines, the state disaster management committee said in its announcement today.

However, interstate travel with a police permit is still mandatory.

A police communication from the state commissioner to all district chiefs, which has gone viral on social media, had given hints on the lifting of the restrictions.

The communication stated that roadblocks are no longer required and if they are, they should only be to check for illegal immigrants under Ops Benteng.

Police personnel manning roadblocks were also told that they were no longer required to ask motorists crossing district boundaries for a permit or for them to show proof that they have been fully vaccinated.

The disaster committee, however, advised Sarawakians against making unnecessary travels and for them to have some self-control “as we are still in the fight against Covid-19”.

With inter-district travel now allowed, the disaster committee nonetheless appealed to the general public to continue complying with health standard operating procedure (SOPs) and other preventive measures to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.

The decision to ease movements is also due to the low hospitalisation cases of new Covid-19 cases.

Today, 1,361 new cases were reported – a few hundred more than yesterday – but out of that figure only 21 cases required hospitalisation.

The disaster committee said 11 had lung infections (category 3 cases), six down with the infection but did not require ventilation (category 4 cases) while four required respiratory assistance (category 5 cases).

The districts of Kuching, Miri and Sibu are the only areas reporting cases in three digits – 316, 254 and 147 respectively.

Six districts – Tg Manis, Telang Usan, Matu, Daro and Dalat – reported no new cases today.

There were also 16 deaths between September 24 and yesterday that were due to Covid-19 with the highest one-day figure, seven deaths, reported on Sunday. – October 5, 2021.