By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Sept 18: Spa for babies, horse racing and recreational and sports centres under Kuching South City Council (MBKS) can now resume operations.
State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas made this announcement today to ease restrictions for these sectors as Covid-19 situation in Sarawak improved steadily without local transmissions for the past 20 days.
“These sectors will adopt the standard operating procedures (SOP) issued by the Ministry of Local Government and Housing,” he told a press conference on Covid-19 today.
Meanwhile, the State Health Department has today emphasised the need to wear face masks as it was an important measure to prevent transmissions of respiratory tract diseases that can spread through viruses including Covid-19.
Assistant Health director Dr Ho Ai Chia explained that face masks can be used to protect those who are healthy from getting infected or to prevent people who have been infected from infecting others.
“This is because the Covid-19 is spread through respiratory droplets among the community.
“The public should wear face masks when out in public places, especially crowded and small places, in which physical distancing of 1 metre cannot be observed,” she reminded.
Dr Ho added that there were two types of face masks, namely medical and non-medical, which can be used according to the suitability of individuals.
“The three-ply surgical masks are for healthcare workers, people with respiratory tract symptoms, high risk groups like elderly (aged 60 and above), as well as those with chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension.
“Non-medical face masks are recommended for healthy people, those without symptoms but often in high risk places or that physical distancing cannot be practised such as public transport, workplaces, supermarkets and crowded areas,” she said.
As for fabric masks, Dr Ho pointed out that it was recommended for healthy people without respiratory problems while mask wearing was not necessary for children below two-years-old and those with breathing difficulties and have other disabilities such as not able to take off the mask on their own.
“We want to remind the public to wear the face mask in the correct way and covering the nose until the chin.
“We must also continue to practice high standards of hygiene and cleanliness like washing hands often and observing physical distancing,” she urged. — DayakDaily
