Covid-19: S'wak bans gatherings of more than 50 people

This handout photo from Malaysia's Ministry of Health taken and released on February 26, 2020 shows health workers wearing protective suits riding in the back of a vehicle as the second batch of Malaysian nationals, evacuated from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus outbreak, arrive at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang. (Photo by Muzzafar Kasim / Malaysia's Ministry of Health / AFP)

SIBU: The Sarawak government has ordered that all government and public gatherings involving more than 50 people be postponed indefinitely.

"This is the latest policy direction by the state government regarding the global Covid-19 outbreak," the State Disaster Management Committee said in a statement on Sunday (March 15).

The measure it said, is taken as part of the Sarawak state government's effort to mitigate the spread of the virus.

The number of cases reported in the state has increased to 20 as of Sunday (March 15) with 11 new cases reported on March 14.

Of the new cases, eight are from Miri (from the Sri Petaling mosque cluster), one each from Bintulu, Sarikei (Sibu Hospital) and Kuching.

All Covid-19 patients in the state are being treated in four designated hospitals in Kuching (Sarawak General Hospital), Sibu Hospital, Bintulu Hospital and Miri Hospital.