KUCHING, Oct 29: The current strain of coronavirus in the third wave seemed to have a high infectious rate.
Minister for Local Government and Housing Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian pointed out that those who were infected had started showing symptoms on the third to fifth day, instead of 10th day onward as in previous cases.
“Laboratory studies had shown that the virus load (amount) is very high. It is however the same virus.
“The higher virus load means it will spread faster and easier,” he told the media after joining Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas to visit the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) operation centre at Kampung Haji Baki here today.
With 20 positive Covid-19 cases detected in the new Green Hill Cluster, Dr Sim said that it was evident that a lot of young people have shown symptoms earlier within the 14-days incubation period.
He noted that many of the social and close contacts have done testing at private hospitals and clinics instead of waiting for health officers to go to them.
However, he also advised the people to do a second swab test on the 10th day if the first result was negative.
“If the first test is negative, it does not mean you have not been infected as the incubation period for the virus is 14 days.
“The Sarawak government’s policy is different from Peninsular Malaysia. We always insist that you go for your second swab test on the 10th day if your first test is negative,” he urged.
On the current cases, Dr Sim informed that there was no repeat patient detected among them so far. —DayakDaily
