by Nancy Nais
KUCHING, March 17: Sarikei Member of Parliament Andrew Wong Ling Biu is under intubation at Sibu Hospital for Covid-19, Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian said.
Wong’s condition is reportedly critical but stable.
Speaking to reporters after attending the State Security Committee Meeting at Wisma Bapa Malaysia this evening, Dr Sim said they are still tracing Wong’s movements prior to his hospitalisation and the origin of where he could have gotten the virus.
“We are still tracing. The patient is still intubated and therefore he is unable to tell us. However, we are almost certain that the virus was imported from Kuala Lumpur because before this, there were no positive cases in Sarawak.
“This also includes another MP from Kuching and a 60-year-old pastor. We are still unsure of the origin for these three, ” Sim said, adding that these three cases are not related to the Sri Petaling religious rally cluster.
The pastor, from Emmanuel Baptist Church, passed away at 11am at Sarawak General Hospital today, making him the first patient in Malaysia to succumbed to Covid-19.
Dr Sim gave assurance that the State Health Department is still in the process of identifying the source of the deceased’s infection.
Urging members of the public to abide by the Movement Control Order announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday, Dr Sim emphasised that everyone must practise social distancing from now until March 31.
He explained that at this moment, it is difficult to know who is infected because the virus’ incubation takes about 14 days but symptoms will normally show by day 7.
“However, it does not mean that if there are no symptoms, a person is not infected. Unfortunately there is no way for us to tell who is Covid-19 positive even when they are asymptomatic. We urged everyone to help Sarawak. We need to practise all the social distancing. The reason we closed down shops, schools, offices is basically to try and break the infection (trend),” he stressed, adding that a person who spreads the infection may not even have any high temperature, cold or shortness of breath.
“That is why this 14 days is so important for us to break the transmission. It is for all of you to stay at home as much as possible and not meant for you to go wandering around. At the end of the day, for this Covid-19 to stop, we need full cooperation from everyone to change their personal, family and community behaviours,” Dr Sim asserted. — DayakDaily
