By Karen Bong
KUCHING, July 9: A timeframe to indicate the period of the current ongoing Movement Control Order (MCO) will no longer be in use as Sarawak has shifted its Covid-19 exit strategy based on the four-phase National Recovery Plan (NRP) which will focus on three threshold indicators to take the State out of the health and economic crisis.
However, State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas highlighted that the threshold values or benchmark for the three indicators are still being reviewed and finetuned to enable divisions in Sarawak to transition from one phase to the next phase.
“It will also take into account the current (Covid-19) position of each division and district based on the threshold values to be ascertained.
“The study and planning (on when and how Sarawak will implement the NRP) will be announced in due time,” he told a press conference during the daily Covid-19 situation updates for Sarawak today.
In general, the three factors to be considered include the Covid-19 situation within the community based on the number of daily cases, rate of bed occupancy in intensive care units (ICU) and the percentage of Sarawak’s population who have completed two doses of vaccine.
The NRP, he emphasised, will provide a clear guideline on the planning and implementation by the government to take Sarawak out of the pandemic crisis phase-by-phase.
“The plan is formulated based on data and science and the transition from one phase to the other phase will depend on these three threshold indicators,” he added.
Uggah, who is also Deputy Chief Minister, pointed out that there is still a long way to go in the Covid-19 battle as collaboration and support from all parties are crucial to help Sarawak defeat the pandemic.
“As such, the community must give their full cooperation and take social responsibility seriously and play their role especially in complying with standard operating procedure (SOP),” he advised.
On behalf of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, he expressed deep appreciation to all frontliners and all Sarawak citizens for their efforts and sacrifices in fighting Covid-19.
Minister for Local Government and Housing Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian and State Health director Dato Dr Mohamed Sapian Mohamed were present. — DayakDaily
