The SDMC said health facilities were in critical condition with 81 cases in intensive care, of which 31 required respiratory assistance. It said the MCO SOP will be announced on the National Security Council (MKN)’s website tomorrow.

The state is currently under a conditional MCO (CMCO).

Sarawak recorded 772 infections today – an all-time high for the state – which took its total number of cases to 44,738.

The SDMC said the spike in cases was due to the Hari Raya celebrations which involved house visits, with 3,272 cases reported from May 9 to May 15 alone.

It also said a total of 714 longhouses have been placed under an enhanced MCO (EMCO) so far, with 98 still under lockdown.

“Considering the worsening Covid-19 situation in Sarawak, critical situation at health facilities and the new variants of concern detected in Sarawak, we need to take more drastic measures to control the spread of Covid-19.

“The SDMC advises those celebrating Gawai (on May 31-June 1) to follow the SOPs issued. Celebrate Gawai with your family members at home, or in your respective ‘rooms’ (in longhouses), or virtually, using technology.

“Don’t return to your hometown or longhouse; stay at home and don’t do any visiting or ‘ngabang’,” it said.

With this announcement, every state and federal territory in Malaysia except for Sabah will be under the MCO from Saturday onwards.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST DATA ON THE COVID-19 SITUATION IN MALAYSIA

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