SPAOH, July 21: Rural dwellers have been cautioned against having lackadaisical attitudes towards observing Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) including being wary of visitors from outside to ward off infections especially new variants.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas reminded once again that Sarawak is not out of the woods yet even though the State is seeing a downward trend in the number of cases.
“Positive cases continue to be detected and this indicates that the virus is still with us, although there has been a downward trend.
“We must continue to be cautious and vigilant including being wary of outsiders visiting us but not complying with the SOP like wearing face masks and others,” he said.
He made these remarks when meeting longhouse folks from Melabu Bair, Ulu Layar and Rh Jawat in Babu Tengah, Debak longhouses in his Bukit Saban constituency near here yesterday.
Uggah, who is Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman, emphasised that outside visitors too must respect the need to protect themselves and communities in the rural areas.
“Protocols like wearing face masks, observing physical distancing and other precautionary measures are meant to be followed to the dot,” he said.
At Melabu Tengah, Uggah announced a RM100,000 government grant for the construction of a steel suspension bridge to replace the one destroyed by a recent flood in the area.
At Rh Jawat, he also checked on the progress of site levelling work for the longhouse expansion project.
Accompanied by Betong MP Datuk Robert Lawson Chuat and political secretary to the Chief Minister Dr Richard Rapu, they later also visited SK Nanga Gayau to check on the school’s ongoing RM7 million upgrade.
The work includes the construction of a three-storey block comprising six classrooms, science laboratories, teachers’ office, administrative centre, four units of teachers’ quarters and other facilities.
The upgrade is expected to be completed by January next year. — DayakDaily
