By Adrian Lim
KUCHING, May 18: Sarawak recorded no positive case of Covid-19 for the fifth consecutive days today.
State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said there was no positive case of Covid-19 reported today.
“As a whole, the success which we have achieved today was due to the cooperation of every Sarawakian in adhering to the order to curb Covid-19.
“Currently, the graph of positive case in Sarawak has flattened for the fifth consecutive days.
“It’s our efforts to prevent the second wave of Covid-19 infection here.
“Hence, we should practice the new norm to ensure that there is no second wave.
“The public are reminded to practice good personal hygiene and social distancing,” he said during a press conference at the Old State Legislative Assembly building here today.
He observed the number of cumulative Covid-19 positive case in Sarawak remained at 544 cases.
Uggah disclosed that there were still 19 new cases of person under investigation (PUI) in Sarawak today while there are 19 PUI cases which are awaiting laboratory results.
Adding on, Uggah who is Deputy Chief Minister said State Health Department is still monitoring PUI cases and the cumulative number of PUI in Sarawak stood at 6,261.
He added the number was excluding person under surveillance (PUS) such as those returning from overseas, Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Labuan and placed at respective hotels upon their return to Sarawak.
When asked by reporters on whether the lower number of PUI cases meant there will be no positive cases, State Health Department director Dr Chin Zin Hing said the department is still monitoring PUI and active cases.
He explained that if there are positive cases among PUI, the State Health Department is able to trace them.
Dr Chin added that if PUI exhibited Covid-19 symptoms such as fever, the State Health Department will investigate and refer them to the hospital.
Although there are no positive cases reported in the past few days, Dr Chin revealed that the State Health Department is still monitoring PUI and those with severe acute respiratory infection (SARI).
He disclosed the State Health Department has also conducted swab tests for patients with influenza liked illness at health clinics to determine whether those patients have Covid-19.
Meanwhile, Uggah who is Agriculture Native Land and Regional Development Minister said the State Health Department has conducted 33,459 swab tests for Covid-19.
He added those include active case detection (ACD) at Desa Ilmu and Taman Uni Garden at Kota Samarahan and also Kampung Tabuan Lot here.
Uggah said SDMC will reveal and explain further to the public on the PUI cases tomorrow.
On another matter, Uggah who is Second Finance Minister said the state government has formed a committee to identify which locations in the rural areas that requires mobile banking services.
He revealed that Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has approved an allocation for mobile banking services to be set up in rural areas.
Uggah who is Bukit Saban assemblyman said the state government is prepared to work with financial institutions which are ready to implement the mobile banking services in the rural areas.
“The mobile banking services will not just be implemented in Pusa but also in other towns or areas whereby the people require banking services.
“The plan to set up mobile banking services in rural towns is in progress as to facilitate the rural community to withdraw financial aid such as Bantuan Sara Hidup (BSH) or Bantuan Khas Sarawakku Sayang (BKSS).
“The details on the operations of mobile banking services in the rural areas will be revealed tomorrow (May 19),” Uggah said when responding to a question on the updates of the operation of mobile banking services in the rural areas. — DayakDaily
