KUCHING, Aug 25: Newborn babies and children aged two to four were among the 44 Covid-19 cases reported in Bintulu yesterday (Aug 24).
Bintulu MP Dato Sri Tiong King Sing said even as the number of new cases in Bintulu remains high, the virus is now infecting the young who have not been vaccinated and have lower immunity.
“I am really sad to hear that newborns were also infected with the virus.
“(I was) even wondering whether parental negligence in prevention of this disease, lack of attention or not following the SOP (standard operating procedure) strictly were the reasons that resulted in innocent children being infected with a new virus variant,” he said in a statement today.
Tiong said according to analysis reports, the spread of Covid-19 was detected in all areas around Bintulu such as longhouses, housing estates, rental houses, rental rooms above shops, and industrial areas.
In view of the worsening situation, Tiong thus urged the Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) and other enforcement agencies to take stern action against illegal rental and housing operators and hold them accountable should any confirmed cases occur on their premises.
“At the same time, enforcement agencies must, from time to time, monitor these rental houses, inspect and assess the environment, the movement of tenants, whether public areas are regularly disinfected, so as to prevent the spread of viruses.
“Authorities must also close down areas and conduct screening tests in the shortest time possible after identifying residential park areas that are at high risk of virus transmission,” he opined.
Tiong, who is also the Prime Minister’s special envoy to China, said however inconvenient these rules and regulations might be, they are aimed at identifying asymptomatic virus carriers and isolating them to stop the chain of transmission.
Meanwhile, he reminded the public in Bintulu not to be lax on following SOP by holding social activities such as private events, barbecues and small gatherings even after being vaccinated.
“I once again remind the public that vaccination is not a magic pill, not 100 per cent protection. The viral variants we face now are volatile, mutated, and require a relatively long period of time to obtain analytical test results.
“I sincerely hope that we all maintain a high level of self-discipline and practise stricter self-control, because we only live once, our health is priceless, and we have to take care of the families, women, children and the elderly around us,” he added. — DayakDaily
