By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, Jan 22: Statistics show that the number of Covid-19 infections is high in Sibu town which is against the misconception that the virus is only rampaging across longhouses in rural areas of Sibu District.
In all urgency and grave concern, Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman Clarence Ting said that the high number of Covid-19 positive cases detected in the mass screening at Sibu Indoor Stadium showed that the pandemic is already spreading Sibu town area.
He earnestly debunked the misconception that Covid-19 virus is only invading the rural areas in Sibu District and that Sibu town area is safe.
The public Covid-19 screening at Sibu Indoor Stadium which stopped on Jan 16 recorded one case on Jan 16, nine on Jan 17 and eight on Jan 18. The numbers started to surge on Jan 19 with 21 cases, soared to 40 cases on Jan 20 and yesterday, it came down to 26 cases.
“These are the numbers of cases we have on daily basis (from Sibu Indoor Stadium). People are paying attention to the Pasai Cluster, but many don’t realise that Sibu town is also having a lot of cases as shown by the daily statistics,” said Ting via telephone interview.
He said there are some who are blaming the Pasai Cluster for all that happened in Sibu. To him, such should not be the case and the blaming game should stop immediately especially in public social media postings.
“This is not the right way to approach Covid-19 pandemic in Sibu. Don’t blame anyone because the virus is already among us. We have to work together to fight it.
“This is my message to Sibu people, in both town and rural areas – ‘Don’t take down your mask in the public’. This is your only protection against Covid-19. Sanitise your hands frequently and stay home. That is why we have Movement Control Order (MCO),” said Ting.
He said Sibu today marks the seventh day of MCO. However, there is still too much traffic on the roads and too many people on the streets.
Expressing his grave concern, Ting said if Sibu folks continue to disobey MCO and take things lightly, it will take longer time to turn Sibu into a green zone again, a status which the riverine town has been enjoying even at the peak of pandemic attack in Sarawak. — DayakDaily
