SARAWAK is taking steps to reduce the movement of people, particularly in Kuching, by shortening business operating times and ordering all gyms closed.

This follows the number of new Covid-19 cases hitting double-digits and a new cluster identified.

Of the 27 new cases reported today, 20 were detected in the Kuching district – 15 from the new cluster that the state Health Department has named the Greenhill cluster.

Four other cases were detected in Miri, Sibu (2) and Bintulu (1).

Greenhill is an area in the old part of the city now teeming with chic pubs and restaurants.

Deputy Chief Minister Douglas Uggah told a press conference today that 45 people were ordered screened after coming into contact with an index case – patient 798 – who tested positive on Monday.

Of the 45, three tested positive for Covid-19 the following day and 15 today.

“This takes the total number of cases in the cluster to 19, including the index case,” said Uggah, who also chairs the state disaster management committee.

Uggah, however, did not specify where they had come into contact with one another, saying only that they had a history of “attending several gatherings” in Kuching.

He said contact tracing in the cluster is continuing.

The Greenhill cluster takes the number of active clusters in the state to five.

The other clusters in the state are the Bah Arnab, Baki and Seladah clusters in Kuching and the Putra cluster in Bintulu.

Uggah said in view of the continuing rise in cases, the committee in a meeting earlier today decided that all food outlets in Kuching, such as coffee shops, restaurants and bistros can only operate from 6am to 10pm from tomorrow until further notice.

There were no time restrictions prior to today.

The committee also set a new 200-people limit at all types of gatherings.

The limit prior to today was 50% of the capacity of the venue.

Yesterday, the committee had ordered all entertainment outlets such as pubs, bars, lounges, discotheques, dance halls, cabarets and karaoke joints, throughout the state to close immediately. – October 28, 2020.