SIBU:Eighty special tents of the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) have been installed at the Sibu Indoor Stadium by members of the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) as a COVID-19 quarantine centre.

Sarawak Housing and Public Health Assistant Minister Dr Annuar Rapaee said the opening of the quarantine centre was an early preparation should the quarantine centre in Kemuyang becomes fully occupied.

“This is only as an initial preparation should the situation get more pressing and we hope not to use it as we are working hard to break the COVID-19 transmission chain," he said when contacted yesterday.

Through his Facebook site, Dr Annuar who is also the Nangka assemblyman said the quarantine centre is a back-up facility.

Sibu district became a COVID-19 red zone yesterday when 44 cases were recorded over the past two days, starting with 37 cases reported under the Pasai Cluster on Friday which started with a woman returning from Johor Bahru after attending her father's funeral at Rumah Langi, Pasai Siong.

-- BERNAMA