By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, Mar 19: Those who are contemplating to “balik kampung” must confirm that they are Covid-19 free or risk taking the disease back to their villages.
This is the earnest call from a very concerned Sarawakian who is also a member of the Sarawak Bar Arthur Lee.
He said that even those who have been confirmed Covid-19 negative should go into self-quarantine for 14 days upon reaching their villages.
“If in doubt, don’t balik kampung,” Lee said to DayakDaily.
Lee was responding to the recent news from FMT that a person had travelled from Johor Bahru to his kampung in Kuantan by bus and had tested positive for Covid-19.
Kuantan Health Officer confirmed the case and was now looking for all the passengers on board the same bus.
Before Lee, Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing had yesterday expressed the same concern calling on the public to put a stop to “balik kampung” movement as it only defeated the purpose for the implementation of Restricted Movement Order which aimed to contain the disease.
Masing said the exodus from city to villages meant to bring the disease from city to respective hometowns away from city.
Meanwhile, Lee called on the State Disaster Management Committee to consider taking extra precautionary steps should there still be any interstate or interdivisional traveling during this time.
“Travellers should use face masks and avoid touching high-risk parts of conveyance like door knobs, hand rails and any area that is constantly touched. Transport companies should constantly sanitise these areas,” suggested Lee.
He also urged the transport company to sanitise the vehicles during transits.
Travellers may also bring along their own sanitising equipment.
“If you have high risk folks (old and young or those suffering underlying health conditions) in kampung, it is better to postpone trip,” said Lee.
He said to maximise the impact of the Restricted Movement Order, these common sense precautions ought to be practised so as not to render the restriction useless. —DayakDaily
