KUCHING, July 2: Sarawak has detected 12 Covid-19 cases linked to the SARS-CoV-2 of the Theta (P.3) variant as reported on June 30, says State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
He hoped that the Delta (B.1.617.2) variant, which is more deadly and dangerous, would not infiltrate Sarawak.
Emphasising on the danger of these new variants, Uggah thus said the strict standard operating procedures (SOP) for those entering Sarawak from Labuan and Peninsular Malaysia was vital.
He said measures relating to the entry to Sarawak were to particularly protect Sarawakians from the fatal and high transmissibility Delta variant with local cases already reported in Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan, as well as Johor, Negeri Sembilan and Perlis.
“Sarawakians and others entering Sarawak from the Peninsular states did not have to do swab tests three days before coming in (previously), but it is mandatory now.
“Anyone who wants to come to Sarawak now has to do the swab tests three days before their departure (to Sarawak). For those from Labuan, they need to apply (permits) from the SDMC before coming in.
“As for those who have stayed in Labuan for a period of 21 days, we do not allow them to come in (for the time being),” he told reporters after giving away fruit baskets to frontliners and enforcement teams at the Indoor Stadium vaccination centre here today.
Uggah, who is also Deputy Chief Minister, said the fruit baskets were to thank the frontliners and teams who have been working hard to serve vaccine recipients daily.
Satisfied with the frontliners’ performance at the Indoor Stadium, he applauded the current well-organised and smooth vaccination process.
He also expressed his gratitude to the Kuching South City Council (MBKS) and some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for their donations of drinking water to the medical workers.
Meanwhile, the fruit basket giving ceremony was jointly organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries (MAFI) Malaysia, Ministry of Agriculture Modernisation, Native Land and Regional Development (MANRED), the Federal Agriculture Marketing Authority (FAMA) and the Sarawak State Agriculture Department.
Sarawak State Agriculture Department director Dr Alvin Chai, FAMA Sarawak director Abdul Jaafar Lian and MBKS mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng were among those present. — DayakDaily
