The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to have reached the state of Sarawak, Malaysia in March 2020. As of 16 November 2022, there are 318,731 confirmed cases.
Timeline First wave March 2020 On 13 March, Sarawak has recorded its first COVID-19 cases, with three patients tested positive for the virus in Kuching. The Sarawak Disaster Management Committee in a statement said 2 cases were from the cluster who attended a religious gathering at Sri Petaling Mosque in Kuala Lumpur on 28 February to 1 March, the third cases was a family member of case 2.
On 14 March, The Sarawak Disaster Management Committee reported 6 new cases were recorded, bringing the total of positive cases to nine. The chairman, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said 2 new cases were recorded in Limbang while 4 new cases were recorded in Kuching. All new cases were from the cluster who attended a religious gathering at Sri Petaling Mosque.
On 15 March, Sarawak recorded 11 new positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 20 cases. Among the 11 new cases, one of them was Sarikei MP Wong Ling Biu after tested positive for the virus in Sibu Hospital. Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen directed all party members and lawmakers who had close contact with the Sarikei MP in the last 14 days to self-quarantine for two weeks.
On 16 March, State Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian said 14 new COVID-19 cases were recorded making the total cases to 34. Among the new cases, 6 are from Kuching, 4 from Betong, 2 from Sarikei and one each from Serian and Simunjan. One of the 2 cases from Sarikei was Malaysian national hammer thrower Jackie Wong Siew Cheer as he was tested positive for the virus in Sibu Hospital after visiting his father, Sarikei MP Wong Ling Biu who was also tested positive for the virus on 15 March.
On 17 March, Sarawak records nation first COVID-19 death involving Patient 18. They died at Sarawak General Hospital. Sarawak also recorded 11 new positive cases bringing the total to 45. Out of 11 new cases, 6 are from Kuching, 3 from Limbang and one each from Betong and Lawas.
On 18 March, Sarawak Disaster Management Committee confirms 5 new positive cases for COVID-19 with 2 patients currently treated in Sarawak General Hospital, 2 in Sibu Hospital and one in Bintulu Hospital. The Sarawak government has enforced measures that align with the federal government movement control order from 18 March to 31 March 2020. On 19 March, Sarawak recorded one new positive case in Kuching making the total to 51. Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) put together a team from various agencies to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. This includes the monitoring of immigration of those entering and exiting Sarawak, combating fake news and digital surveillance. Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) together with a Sarawak-based technology development company, SOCOE Sdn Bhd developed enterSarawak an online system was developed within 36 hours after the announcement of the MCO .'enterSarawak' – is a mobile and web-based system integrated into i-Alerts that allows SDMC to have complete control as well as monitor the comings and goings of the people in Sarawak. enterSarawak serves as the first point of contact for the public to get permission to enter or exit the state. This includes short term entry into the state for transit passengers, flight crew, freight and shipping personnel as well as essential services staff.
On 20 March, Sarawak recorded 7 new COVID-19 cases bringing the total to 58 cases. Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said all 7 cases were reported in Kuching and are currently treated at Sarawak General Hospital. 4 of the cases are among the cluster who attended a religious gathering at Sri Petaling Mosque in Kuala Lumpur on 28 February to 1 March. 2 cases were local church cluster while one is still under investigation. State Disaster Management Committee has identified 4 possible COVID-19 clusters other than the religious gathering at Sri Petaling Mosque namely Emmanuel Baptist Church Kuching cluster, Good News Fellowship Church cluster, DAP fundraising dinner cluster and Josephian Day cluster at SMK St Joseph Kuching. Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) has come up with a tracking device to be used by those under home quarantine which will be attached to their wrists and a digital mapping method would also be used to identify hotspots of COVID-19 infections to prevent its spread.
On 21 March, Sarawak's National Safety Council branch had identified seven hot spots related to the pandemic, which are Kuching, Serian, Betong, Sarikei, Bintulu, Miri and Limbang. Another two deaths in the state involving a 79-year-old woman and her 40-year-old daughter were reported within the day. Sarawak Disaster Management Committee reported 10 new positive cases in the state (inclusive both that died on the same day) making the total to 68 cases.
On 22 March, Sarawak Disaster Management Committee recorded 8 new positive COVID-19 cases bringing the total to 76. On 23 March, Sarawak announced 2 new COVID-19 deaths involving a 49-year-old man from Kuching and a 51-year-old woman from Limbang. Sarawak also recorded 6 new positive COVID-19 cases, all from Kuching bringing the total cases to 82. Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg announced RM1.15 billion special aid package to reduce COVID-19 impact on the state.
On 24 March, Sarawak recorded 5 new positive COVID-19 cases with 2 each from Sarawak General Hospital and Sibu Hospital and one in Miri Hospital. According to Sarawak Disaster Management Committee clusters statistic, one of the new cases in Sarawak General Hospital is from the religious gathering at Sri Petaling Mosque in Kuala Lumpur while the other one are connected to the church cluster. The 2 new cases in Sibu Hospital are also from the religious gathering at Sri Petaling Mosque in Kuala Lumpur.
On 25 March, 4 new positive cases were recorded, bringing the total to 91. Another 4 new positive cases were detected the following day.
On 27 March, Sarawak Disaster Management Committee said 15 new cases recorded where all of the cases are treated at Sarawak General Hospital. 7 of them have been traced to having close contacts with three family members who died from the virus due to an imported case from Italy, 4 from the Good News Fellowship Church in Kuching and the other four to the religious gathering at Sri Petaling Mosque in Kuala Lumpur.
On 28 March, Sarawak recorded 8 new positive cases with 7 cases are treated at Sarawak General Hospital and one at Sibu Hospital. Sarawak also recorded 9 positive patients recovered and has been discharged from hospital. On 29 March, 11 new cases recorded in Sarawak General Hospital bringing the total to 129.
On 30 March, Sarawak recorded 2 COVID-19 deaths, one from Sarawak General Hospital and another one from Miri Hospital. 6 new cases were recorded in the state making the total to 135 where 3 cases recorded in Sarawak General Hospital, 2 in Miri Hospital and one in Sibu Hospital. On 31 March, Sarawak recorded nation's first foreign COVID-19 death involving Indonesian lecturer in Sarawak General Hospital. 21 new cases recorded in the state and 5 more patients recovered and discharged from hospital.
April 2020 On 1 April, Sarawak recorded 32 new positive cases with one from Samarahan and the rest from Kuching. On 2 April, Sarawak Disaster Management Committee said 23 new cases and 1 death were recorded bringing the total cases to 211. Another 28 new cases recorded in the state the following day.
On 4 April, Sarawak recorded 1 more COVID-19 death bringing the death toll to 10 deaths. The state also recorded 15 new positive cases with 13 from Sarawak General Hospital and one each from Sibu Hospital and Miri Hospital. On 5 April, 10 new positive cases were recorded in the state with 2 new deaths from the Sarawak General Hospital.
On 6 April, 9 new positive COVID-19 cases recorded bringing the total to 273. 34 positive patients have recovered and discharged from hospital to date. Another 15 new cases recorded in the state the following day with 14 cases were being treated at Sarawak General Hospital and one at Miri Hospital.
On 8 April, Sarawak Disaster Management Committee said 18 new cases recorded making the total to 306. 39 positive patients have recovered and discharged from hospital to date.
On 9 April, Sarawak recorded another death involving a 23-year-old student from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak who lived in Kota Samarahan and was admitted to Sarawak General Hospital on 30 March. She was the 5th generation of the Good News Fellowship Church cluster in Kuching. Sarawak also recorded 6 new positive cases bringing the total to 312 with 5 cases from Sarawak General Hospital and one from Bintulu Hospital.
On 10 April, Sarawak Disaster Management Committee said 15 new positive cases recorded in Sarawak making the total to 327. 14 patients recovered and discharged from hospital bringing it to 53 recovered to date. 7 new cases recorded in Sarawak on 11 April, 12 April and 13 April respectively. Another 15 new cases recorded in Sarawak bringing the total to 363.
On 18 April, Sarawak recorded 6 new positive cases where all cases were admitted at Sarawak General Hospital bringing the total positive cases to 403. 2 new recoveries recorded in Sarawak General Hospital making the total recoveries in the state to 57. On 19 April, Sarawak recorded 5 new positive cases where all cases were admitted at Sarawak General Hospital bringing the total positive cases to 408. 5 new recoveries recorded in Sarawak General Hospital and 2 more in Sibu Hospital making the total recoveries in the state to 64. On 20 April, Sarawak recorded 6 new positive cases where 4 cases were admitted at Sarawak General Hospital and 2 at Bintulu Hospital bringing the total positive cases to 414. 4 new recoveries recorded in Sarawak General Hospital making the total recoveries in the state to 68.
On 21 April, Sarawak recorded 22 new positive cases where all cases were admitted at Sarawak General Hospital bringing the total positive cases to 436. 20 new recoveries recorded in Sarawak General Hospital making the total recoveries in the state to 88. 1 fatality recorded in the state involving a 69-year-old male who was admitted to Sarawak General Hospital on 3 April and was found positive COVID-19 on 7 April. On 22 April, Sarawak recorded 19 new positive cases where 18 cases were admitted at Sarawak General Hospital and one at Miri Hospital bringing the total positive cases to 455. 17 new recoveries recorded with 15 in Sarawak General Hospital, one each in Sibu Hospital and Miri Hospital making the total recoveries in the state to 105. 1 fatality recorded in the state involving a 72-year-old female from Sri Aman who was admitted to Sarawak General Hospital on 20 April and was found positive COVID-19 on 22 April. On 23 April, Sarawak recorded 4 new positive cases where 3 cases were admitted at Sarawak General Hospital and one at Miri Hospital bringing the total positive cases to 459. 27 new recoveries recorded with 21 in Sarawak General Hospital, 2 in Sibu Hospital, 1 in Bintulu Hospital and 3 in Miri Hospital making the total recoveries in the state to 131.