KUCHING, Mar 17 (Sin Chew Daily) — Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee has confirmed the country's first COVID-19 death in the state.

It said in a statement this evening that the 60-year-old victim was a pastor from Emmanuel Baptist Church, Kuching. He passed away at 11:00 am at Sarawak General Hospital. 

Meanwhile, 193 close contacts of the deceased have been traced and are undergoing home quarantine.