By Karen Bong
KUCHING, July 1: Sarawak is still evaluating the thresholds for lifting Covid-19 restrictions with focus given on getting 80 per cent of the State’s population vaccinated against the disease.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, in giving this hint, however also emphasised that the State would consider easing some restrictions to allow certain sectors to reopen once the Covid-19 situation improved as livelihoods are at stake.
“(Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas) Uggah (Embas) is still looking into the thresholds for lifting restrictions.
“There are criteria but it is still premature to reveal or decide as we are now striving to complete vaccination for all of our people,” he told a press conference after visiting the Jalan Masjid health clinic vaccination centre (PPV) set up at Majma hall here today.
Abang Johari was responding to a question as to whether Sarawak has determined thresholds for lifting the Movement Control Order (MCO), perhaps district by district, instead of following the national policy.
Commenting on the overall Covid-19 situation in the country, Abang Johari noted that the number of cases has remained high and hovered between 5,000 and 6,000 new cases per day in the past couple of weeks with Selangor accounting for most cases, reaching more than 2,000 on some days.
“We are pulled down by the numbers in Selangor but I am of the opinion that if our situation can improve, we will allow certain sectors to reopen as livelihoods are at stake.
“But at this stage, it is still premature for us to make the move because our aim is to have 80 per cent of our population vaccinated with at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine so that they are protected against the disease.
“Furthermore, we still need to comply with federal policy,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Sarawak is on track to achieving 80 per cent vaccination coverage in two months time as currently 50 per cent of the State’s 2.08 million population have already received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.
Minister for Local Government and Housing Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian and Uggah were among those present. — DayakDaily
