THE spike in new Covid-19 cases in Bintulu and Sibu is due to those who applied for entry and exit travel passes to Bintulu, said Tiong King Sing.

Yesterday, the number of new cases in Bintulu district jumped to 112 from the two-digit figures of the last three days.

The number in Sibu yesterday was 115 – to head the state’s infection list – when only 81 was detected on Tuesday, 36 on Wednesday and 35 on Thursday.

The Bintulu division disaster management committee had made it compulsory that all those wishing to enter or leave Bintulu between April 5 and 18 have a Covid-19 negative test certificate.

The test was to be taken three days prior to travel.

Tiong said even though the travel restriction had contributed to the spike in cases, it had played “a crucial role in allowing the authorities to track and trace infected persons”.

He is now asking the authorities to adjust their strategies in dealing with the pandemic in the state in light of the Bintulu experience.

At the same time, Tiong is also appealing to the public to get tested and “ensure that they are clear of the disease and protect themselves and those around them”.

“It is understood that the level of anxiety and worry weighs heavily on Bintulu. However, if everyone gives a greater degree of cooperation and not spread false information, we will get by this period more easily,” he said.

The Bintulu travel requirement has raised some problems and solicited criticisms from lawmakers.

Long distance lorry drivers hauling supplies to the various towns find they are also required to take the test even though they are merely passing through the district.

A section of the Pan Borneo highway passes through the district.

Yesterday, state disaster management committee chairman, Deputy Chief Minister Douglas Uggah, said the Bintulu disaster committee had made amendments to its travel rules, a 14-day validity for the Covid-19 test results, and multiple entries.

DAP’s Bukit Assek assemblyman Irene Chang said the Bintulu decision is burdening Sibu’s healthcare system.

She said people in her home town have swarmed the government’s Lanang clinic for the real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test.

With Sibu still recovering from its handling of the Pasai cluster – the state’s deadliest – and in the satellite town of Sibu Jaya, Chang said the travel ruling will only further overstretch Sibu’s healthcare system. – April 10, 2021.