KUCHING, Dec 19: Sarawak stands behind the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) decision not to reintroduce the Movement Control Order (MCO), despite a concerning surge in Covid-19 cases across Malaysia.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian supported the reinstatement of the five-point strategy, which emphasises early case detection through the Heightened Alert System (HAS), community tracing using the TRIIS (test, report, isolate, inform, and seek) system, monitoring health facilities, effective risk communication, and the digitisation of the health system via the MySejahtera application.
“At this endemic stage, (the approach) is to live with the virus.
“(However) lessons from Covid-19 (experience indicates that) the current surge is not the peak yet,” he shared in a Facebook post yesterday (Dec 18).
Dr Sim, who is also Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government, pointed out that Sarawak has also witnessed a staggering 171 per cent increase in Covid-19 cases, with 310 reported cases during Epidemiological Week (EW) 49, spanning from Dec 3 to 9.
Urging the public to revisit precautionary measures, especially the use of face masks in crowded areas, he emphasised the importance of vulnerable groups, such as senior citizens and those with critical illnesses, getting their second booster dose or the fourth dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.
“In Sarawak, only 3.6 per cent or 101,167 Sarawakians have received their second booster dose,” he said.
Dr Sim also advised individuals who test positive for Covid-19 to promptly obtain free Paxlovid, the oral anti-viral Covid medication, for it to be effective in preventing symptoms from becoming severe.
“The Sarawak Health Department has assured that Paxlovid is available at both public and private healthcare facilities throughout the State,” he added.
He also reminded all Sarawakians to maintain a high standard of personal hygiene such as frequently washing hands or using sanitiser; self-testing with RTK Ag if experiencing flu-related symptoms; and adhering to a five-day quarantine if positive while reporting their status on the MySejahtera app.
“Panic does not help but it is important for you to play your role and do your part. We have done it (overcome challenges) together in the past, and we shall do it again during this surge,” he said. — DayakDaily
