PUTRAJAYA has approved the Sarawak government’s application to curtail intrastate movement on August 1-14 in a bid to contain a coronavirus outbreak in the state.

Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said Sarawak is now divided into two zones.

“Zone 1 is Kuching, Serian and Samarahan which are yellow and red zones while Zone 2 is Seri Aman, Betong, Sarikei, Kapit, Mukah, Bintulu, Miri and Limbang, which are all green zones,” he said today in a press conference.

Anyone wishing to travel between the two zones must have police approval to do so, he said.

“If you are from Kuching and plan to go to Seri Aman, you need approval. But if you are (travelling within) the same zone, there is no need for that.”

The number of flights to Sarawak from the peninsula, Sabah and Labuan would be reduced during the same period.

Kuching was declared a red zone after infections in the district topped 40 on Saturday.

Director-general of health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said Kuching’s Sentosa Hospital, which has reported 21 virus cases, has been locked down and the employees prohibited from leaving. – July 27, 2020.