KOTA KINABALU: Sabah does not allow open house activities, banquets, visits, and cemeteries in conjunction with the Hari Raya Aidiladha celebration.
State Minister of Local Government and Housing, Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said the decision to amend the standard operating procedure (SOP) was made to curb the spread and increase in COVID-19 cases in the state.
“The number of pilgrims in mosques and surau for Aidiladha prayers, Friday prayers, and five-hour prayers are reduced to one-third of the space capacity or a most of 30 worshipers, whichever is lower.
“The number of sacrificial animal slaughter operators has also been reduced to 15 people only.
“Meanwhile, all Aidiladha celebration activities in the Tightened Movement Control Order (PKPD) locality are not allowed,” he said in a media statement on the COVID-19 daily report for the state, on Saturday.
However, he said the SOP amendment was temporary until the daily COVID-19 cases in the state returned to stability.
Masidi, who is also the state COVID-19 spokesperson, said a total of 647 new positive cases were recorded today, with one death case detected from the Lahad Datu district.
Clearly, this sharp increase is the result of massive screening that is being implemented by the State Health Department to curb the spread in the community.
“A total of 647 cases were recorded as a result of cluster screening of 287 cases (44.4%), close contact screening of 220 cases (34%), targeted screening of 63 cases (9.7%), symptomatic screening of 47 cases (7.3%) and others screening 30 cases (4.6%).
“Kota Kinabalu district recorded the highest some cases with a total of 312 new cases today.
“Of that number, the Kota Kinabalu Wall Cluster (Kepayan Prison) contributed 204 cases,” he added.
SOURCE: Astro AWANI
