A TOTAL of 428 students in 32 schools in Sarawak were unable to sit for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia 2020 examination, which began nationwide today.

Sarawak disaster management committee chairman Douglas Uggah said 414 of the students are from zones under the enhanced movement-control order (EMCO) while 14 were found to be Covid-19-positive.

“Of the students, 205 are male and 223 female,” he told the daily press conference on Covid-19 in Kuching.

Uggah, who is also deputy chief minister, also said the EMCO at the Town Villa housing and flats area in Sibu Jaya, has been extended to March 4.

At the same press conference, Sarawak police commissioner Aidi Ismail said police will conduct foot and vehicle patrols as well as use loud hailers and beacon lights to indicate their presence in public areas.

On the Covid-19 situation in Sarawak, Uggah said one death was reported over 24 hours up to noon today, raising to 74 the number of deaths in the state from the disease, or 0.91% of the total number of positive cases reported.

Over the same period, 221 new cases were detected in the state, up from 185 yesterday. Altogether, Sarawak has reported 8,164 cases. – Bernama, February 22, 2021.