January 9, 2021 Eight longhouses in Pasai Siong and its surrounding areas in Sibu, Sarawak, have been placed under lockdown for at least 14 days after a Covid-19 cluster was detected at one of the longhouses.

The longhouses affected by the lockdown following the emergence of the Pasai Cluster are Jelian Nayor, Ringgit Unchu, Langi Ambau, Pom Maja, Nyanggai Alok, Jeram Empin, Kelly Chundau and Nyambong Ajon.

The matter was confirmed by Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah in a posting on his official social media account today.

“This is our greatest fear in the rural areas and we need to step up our public health measures and protect the state, district and communities,” said Dr Noor Hisham,

Bernama reported Sibu Disaster Management Committee chairman Charles Siaw saying the police have since mounted a roadblock at the entrance to Rumah Panjang Langi, located about 15km from Jalan Teku Pasai Siong, starting 11.30pm yesterday (Jan 8).

The index case of the Pasai Cluster was identified as Case 1,175 patient who had returned from Johor Baru after attending her father’s funeral on Dec 29 last year.

The patient had flown from Johor to Kuala Lumpur via a Firefly flight at 8am. The patient later flew to Kuching from Kuala Lumpur at 1.30pm the same day.

The first swab test conducted on the patient upon her arrival at the Kuching International Airport (KIA) returned negative. The patient subsequently departed for Sibu from KIA via an AirAsia flight.

“Upon arrival in Sibu, the patient was given an exemption to undergo quarantine in Pasai Siong (Langi longhouse).

“The patient took her second swab test at the Jalan Lanang Health Clinic on Jan 5 where she tested positive for the virus the following day.

“The patient has been admitted to the Sibu Hospital,” Charles was quoted in the Bernama report.

As of noon today, a total of 73 people from the Pasai Cluster have been screened for the virus, of which, 38 including the index case were tested positive for the virus.

Apart from the lockdown at the affected longhouses, other actions taken to stem the outbreak at the area include limiting the number of flights from Kuala Lumpur to Sibu to only two flights a week.

In addition, all flights to Sibu from Johor and Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, have been cancelled beginning tomorrow (Jan 10).

“Since January 8, all passengers arriving at the Sibu Airport from outside Sarawak are required to undergo mandatory quarantine at hotels (designated as quarantine centres).

“Apart from hotels in Sibu, passengers arriving from outside Sarawak would also be placed at quarantine centres at the respective divisions in Betong, Sarikei, Mukah and Kapit,” read a statement by the committee.