THE transmission of the Covid-19 virus in Sarawak has stabilised, Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg said today.

He nonetheless, still appealed to Sarawakians to comply with the extended movement-control order (MCO) and restrict their movement as the virus’ outbreak is at its critical stage.

State housing and local government minister Sim Hui Kian, who holds a watching brief on health matters for the state cabinet, said it’s still too early to tell if the transmission has bottomed out.

In a graph distributed to the media, the number of positive cases showed a downward trend since the implementation of the MCO on March 18, from five cases to one the next day before spiking to 10 on March 21.

It was then downwards from eight (March 22) to four yesterday and today.

“If we abide strictly to the MCO, there is a good possibility that we can contain Covid-19 and for the figure to come down and hopefully by 16 to 17 days, there will be zero (cases),” the chief minister said.

Abang Johari said the state’s geographical position, separated from the peninsula by the South China Sea, should also give the state an advantage in stopping the chain of infections. 

The state has all closed all its borders with its Borneo neighbours – Sabah, Brunei and Kalimantan.

Abang Johari said the state’s border control will also be enhanced to monitor human trafficking  “to prevent the import of the Covid-19 virus”.

In his post-State Security Council meeting press conference this afternoon, Abang Johari said the state government has formed two sub-committees to look into security and food supply issues after the MCO was extended to April 14.

Deputy Chief Ministers James Masing will chair the security committee while Awang Tengah Ali Hasan will chair the food supply chain sub-committee.

The chief minister said the state government will review from time to time the economic impact of the MCO and “will endeavour to find solutions to enable the people to return to normal life”. 

“We shall monitor closely the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak on the ordinary people and we shall also monitor the roll-out of the various economic initiatives.”

The extension of the MCO has also pushed back the special one-day sitting of the state legislative assembly.

The sitting, slated to be on April 13, will now be held on April 16. – March 26, 2020.