SARAWAK has made it mandatory for workers heading to oil and gas installations in state waters for a crew change to first undergo a 14-day quarantine.

Deputy Chief Minister Douglas Uggah Embas said the precautionary measure, to be observed in Sarawak, is to prevent Covid-19 infections on the installations.

Some of these workers are from Labuan and the peninsula.

“We are worried that some of them might be carriers,” said Uggah, who chairs the state Disaster Management Committee.

“There could be serious problems if infections break out on the installations.”

As Sarawak today recorded 11 more coronavirus cases, seven divisions and districts have been declared red zones, with an inter-district travel ban imposed.

The red zones are Kuching, which has 69 cases, Samarahan (16), Betong (8), Sarikei (6), Bintulu (5), Miri (9) and Limbang (6).

The yellow zones are Serian and Sibu with three cases each, and Mukah, Matu, Lawas and Simunjan with one case each.

On the inter-district travel ban, Uggah said emergency travel is allowed.

The 11 new infections were detected in Kuching, and the patients have been warded at Sarawak General Hospital.

Sarawak’s total cases now stand at 129, five of whom have died. Nine have been discharged from hospital after making a full recovery.

Another 49 individuals have been designated as patients under investigation. – March 29, 2020.