THE conditional movement-control order (CMCO) in Sarawak, which was supposed to end on Wednesday, has been extended yet again by another two weeks to May 10 – just three days before Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

The extension will be the seventh since the CMCO, with the exception of Sibu district, was first implemented state-wide on January 18 to 31 to stem the pandemic in the state.

Sibu, grappling with the deadly Pasai cluster, then was under the more restrictive movement-control order (MCO).

As with all the previous extensions, the reason the state disaster management committee gave was that the infection numbers in the state is still high.

Today, the disaster committee reported there were 570 new cases and five deaths linked to the Covid-19.

Bintulu district continue to lead the way in the number of new cases – 128.

The only other district to have three-digit figures is Kapit with 109 cases.

There were 76 reported in Kuching, 54 in Sibu, Song (45), Subis (29), Serian (26), Bukit Mabong (16), Tatau (14), Miri (11), Kanowit and Belaga (10 each), Lundu, Mukah and Samarahan (9 each), Sarikei (5), Bau (3), Tebedu (2), Beluru , Saratok, Meradong, Betong and Selangau (one each).

Four of the five deaths are from Bintulu – a 71-year-old and a 54-year-old, both women, and two men, a 54-year-old and a 60-year-old.

The one death not from Bintulu is that of a 61-year-old from Sarikei, who was found unconscious in his home.

He was “brought in dead” to the Sarikei hospital and the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR) Covid test done during his post mortem showed he was positive for the virus, the disaster committee stated.

He was also linked to the Sungai Gemuan cluster. – April 24, 2021.