By Adrian Lim
KUCHING, April 6: The public are reminded not to sigmatise novel coronavirus (Covid-19) patients.
State Disaster Management Committee deputy chairman Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the public should not point fingers at Covid-19 patients as the virus is colour blind.
“I have seen what has been viral on the social media about a cluster related to RHB Bank (Satok branch). There are a few members of a family (from Kampung Patingan) who passed away due to Covid-19 as a result of a close contact.
“There were some accusations (online) and so on, especially what some quarters are saying about the Italy cluster. I would like to stress that the virus does not choose who we are or what race or religion we have.
“What has happened was just a misfortune,” he told a press conference on Covid-19 updates in Sarawak at Wisma Bapa Malaysia, here, today.
Abdul Karim said there was no need to publicise the matter and let whatever happened be bygones. He believed those who have known to be infected with Covid-19 will not go to work.
Citing a case of an assistant minister, Abdul Karim, who is also the state Youth and Sports Minister, explained that if Datuk Dr Jerip Susil knew that he has been infected with Covid-19, he would not have attended a meeting on the food supply chain last month.
Hence, he reminded the public not to make quick judgements and accusations especially on Covid-19 patients.
“Nobody wants to be infected with Covid-19. I have empathy for Covid-19 patients and their family members.”
Abdul Karim has made reference to online postings that mentioned an employee of RHB Bank who returned from Italy, which is a high risk country for Covid-19 infection.
She was tested positive for Covid-19 and was believed to have gone back to work after refusing to abide by the state Health Department’s directive to remain at home for the 14-day self-quarantine.
As a result, she has infected a few colleagues including the family members of her colleagues, which caused several casualties in one of the family.
Yesterday, Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah mentioned that the Italian cluster from patient number 1,580 has caused 37 other persons to be infected with Covid-19, as well as few fatalities reported.
He reminded those who have symptoms and related to any clusters to be truthful and transparent in revealing their travelling information to the health authorities in an effort to combat Covid-19 in Malaysia. — DayakDaily
