By Ling Hui
KUCHING, May 21: Sarawak’s Covid-19 has among the lowest Rt value of 0.96 in Malaysia, but has recorded 608 new cases yesterday (May 20) which is the fourth highest in Malaysia.
State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) advisor Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian said this is because the daily toll can be a cumulative number of positive results taken on different days.
“PCR (polymerase chain reaction) swabs can be taken on Monday but only reported today. Some were taken yesterday but reported today also,” he explained in a social media post yesterday.
On the Rt value, he said 0.96 indicates that for every 100 Sarawakians infected with Covid-19, the virus will transmit to another 96 new persons.
While R0 or R-naught means how contagious an infectious disease is, he said the figure would eventually decrease if people continue to observe social distancing, personal hygiene, early detection and treatment.
Dr Sim, who is also Minister for Local Government and Housing, said another challenge is that many are asymptomatic carriers who could infect others but are not known.
Thus, he urged the public not to believe in the fallacy that the figures for Sarawak are low and dropped their guard.
“(This) is medical science, listen to the experts. (This is) not political science, (don’t listen) to non-scientific politicians, social activists, rumours, fake news, cyber bullies with evil intentions,” he added. — DayakDaily
