KUCHING, Aug 9: As of yesterday, out of 449 death cases caused by Covid-19, 425 victims who constitute 94.6 per cent had no history of Covid-19 immunisation.
Sarawak Health Director Dato Dr Mohamed Sapian Mohammed in a statement today also pointed out that out of the total Covid-19 death toll, 21 of the victims had received one dose of vaccination.
“Only three cases of death (0.7 percent) had received the first and second doses before they were detected positive but within 14 days from the date of receipt of the last dose.
“This means that so far, Sarawak has not recorded any deaths due to Covid-19 among individuals who have completed Covid-19 immunisation (at least 14 days after receiving a complete dose of vaccine),” said Dr Mohamed Sapian.
He said treatment in hospitals has also decreased in line with the sharp increase in Covid-19 immunisation coverage in Sarawak.
The number of new daily hospital admission cases for clinical levels 3, 4 and 5 in Sarawak this month (as of 8 August 2021) was 44 cases with an average of 5.5 cases per day (1.83 per cent of the total positive hospital admissions).
“This is a decrease compared to July 2021 with the average daily hospitalisation cases for clinical levels 3, 4 and 5 of 9.1 cases per day (3.05 per cent of the total number of positive hospital admissions).”
Dr Mohamed Sapian also disclosed that the number of cases requiring critical care has also decreased from an average of 83 cases per day in June 2021 to 45 cases per day in July 2021.
This number, he said, continued to decline to an average of 27 cases per day this month (as of 8 August 2021).
“The Sarawak State Health Department would like to emphasize that Covid-19 immunisation is safe and effective in reducing the risk of getting serious illness or death, including Delta variants or other VOCs (Variants of Concern).
“However, these immunisations cannot completely prevent the risk of being infected with the Covid-19 virus,” he cautioned.
He said Covid-19 infections can still occur in a small number of individuals who have completed immunisation but the symptoms experienced are usually mild.
In fact, individuals who have fully received immunisations still have the potential to infect others and pose a danger to those at risk, especially those with weakened immune systems due to chronic diseases, cancer or are receiving immunosuppressive drug treatment.
He said the increase in immunisation coverage will continue to have a positive impact on mortality and severe illness caused by Covid-19 infections in Sarawak.— DayakDaily
