Sabah restricts gatherings amid Covid-19 surge

 

Sabah chief minister Hajiji Noor at a local products exhibition in Ranau recently. The state government announced restrictions on public events today because of a Covid-19 surge. (Facebook pic)

KOTA KINABALU: Restrictions have been placed on government and social events in Sabah after Covid-19 infections soared in the past week.

A maximum of 150 people, or half-capacity of the venue, will be allowed, with events restricted to two-hour or three-hour durations.

Masidi Manjun.

There were 3,361 new cases reported in the past 24 hours, an increase of 392 cases over the previous day, with two new clusters, raising the number to 36 active Covid-19 clusters.

However, only 5 cases were in Category 3, 2 in Category 4 and 1 in Category 5. The rest, amounting to 99.76% or 3,353 cases, are in Category 1 and 2.

Masidi said gatherings and social events can only involve 150 people or 50% of the venue capacity, or whichever is lower, and can only be held for a period of two hours. The events include religious activities, anniversaries, festivities and reunions. However social functions such as wedding and engagement receptions cannot go on more than three hours.

He said attendees must take a Covid-19 saliva test-kit that must be observed by the organiser or produce a test result verified by a medical practitioner. - FMT