Medical experts mull home quarantining Category 1, 2 Covid-19 patients, says Dr Sim

Dr Sim Kui Hian

By Ling Hui

KUCHING, Aug 22: Medical experts will be assessing the suitability and appropriateness for Covid-19 Categories 1 and 2 patients to be home quarantined, says Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian.

The State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) advisor said home surveillance order (HSO) for these groups can be considered as 99.9 per cent of recent cases are either with no or mild symptoms despite the presence of Delta variant.

He said this is thanks to the clinical impact of high Covid-19 vaccination rate in Sarawak where the vaccines are effective in reducing the severity of the virus.

Vaccination, he added, has also guaranteed a 99 per cent recovery from Covid-19 after infection.

“But, the sheer numbers may potentially still pose a challenge to hospitals and ICU (intensive care unit) beds for Categories 3 to 5.

“Sarawak will still need to be on very high alert. Come together in solidarity, support each other but not panic, (stop) politicking or (spread) misleading, fake news,” he said on a social media post last night (Aug 21).

Meanwhile, on breakdown of Covid-19 cases reported in Kuching Division yesterday, Dr Sim said 319 cases were from outside of Kuching district.

A total of 192 cases were traced back to Lundu, 111 to Bau, 11 to Samarahan, four to Serian, and one to Kuala Lumpur.

Other cases in Kuching were mainly from active clusters, active case detection (ACD), self-tests, pre-tests and symptomatic tests with 93 cases still pending investigation.

In terms of localities, Dr Sim listed 35 locations with more than four cases yesterday and among those were places already under Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO).

Locations with double-digit caseloads were Kampung Gersik (15), Lion Nursing (13), Kampung Tabuan Tengah (13), Bandar Baru Samariang (11), Taman Matang Jaya (11) and Lorong Cahaya Damai (10).

The rest of the localities that registered case numbers between four to nine included Kampung Tabuan Lot, Kampung Tabuan Ulu, Kampung Semarang, Taman Malihah, Taman Banjaran Serapi, Kampung Tabuan Cemerang, Kampung Tematu, Kampung Tabuan Dayak, Kampung Sri Jaya, Kampung Muara Tebas, Taman Sri Matang, Taman Dahlia, Kampung Annah Rias, Kampung Bintawa Hilir, Jalan Stutong Baru, Taman RPR Landeh, Kampung Siol Kandis, Kampung Bintawa Tengah, Kampung Semariang, Jalan Haji Matam, Taman Stapok, Taman Sri Harmoni, Taman Sukma, RPR Batu 13, Kampung Matang Heritage, Kuarter YPN Electrical, Kampung Braang Bayer, Pending Industrial Estate and SPS Baru Stutong. — DayakDaily