Miri is suffering an estimated 50% drop in business following the lockdown at the Sarawak-Brunei border since the start of this week.



Brunei folk are feeling the impact too as they cannot come to Miri to buy daily supplies of meat, fish and vegetables.



Such is the impact of the lockdown imposed by the Brunei government and the restricted movement imposed by Malaysia.



Both governments are taking measures to stop the spread of Covid-19.



Sarawak has so far recorded 50 cases, with one fatality.



The outbreak is more serious in Brunei as at least four pre-teen children in various places have been infected.



A two-year-old girl in Brunei is the youngest among some 60 Covid-19 cases recorded there.



She is also believed to be the youngest Covid-19 case in the region.



The Brunei health ministry, in a statement, said out of the cases recorded, 19 had attended the Sri Petaling mosque event in Kuala Lumpur.



“All the others who went for that gathering must come forward for health tests,” said the Brunei health authorities.



The first case was that of a 53-year-old Brunei pensioner who went to the KL mosque event and then flew into Miri for shopping before returning to Brunei by land.



In Miri, he and the other Bruneians visited two mega shopping centres in the city centre, sparking fears among local Miri folk.



In the meantime, Brunei Health Ministry has announced that all public gatherings have been barred until further notice.



More than 520 Bruneians are under quarantine in isolation centres following a sudden spike in Covid-19 infections there.



Miri is located only 35km from Brunei.



About 30,000 to 40,000 Bruneians come here for shopping, food and entertainment.



The number can surge drastically during school holidays and festive seasons.



Brunei is having their school holidays now so the decision on both the Sarawak and Brunei sides to lock down the border is the right move.



Only oil tankers and cargo delivery trucks going from Miri to Limbang and Lawas are allowed to pass through Brunei without stopping in the sultanate.



All other social movements are banned until further notice.



This is going to severely impact people on both sides of the border.





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