MIRI – The Sarawak Teachers Union wants the wearing of face masks to be made compulsory again in the state’s schools.
All primary and secondary students should be required to mask up again during classes and school activities as well as in school buses and vans, said its president Kullin Djayang.
“Since Sarawak detected the new Covid-19 variant, and infections in general are rising again, face masks should be made mandatory for all students once more.
“This safety precaution should be made compulsory in classrooms, laboratories, assemblies, group activities and even in school buses and vans.
“Social distancing among students should be enforced as soon as possible.
“The union is worried that there could be a surge in new infections during this Hari Raya period,” he said in a statement.
On April 20, it was announced that the new Covid-19 variant Arcturus had been detected in Sarawak, with six positive infections detected.
This new aggressive variant was found from samples of those infected from Kuching (three patients), Sibu (two), and Serian (one).
Discoveries of the new variant were made following intensive sampling by Universiti Malaysia Sarawak’s Institute of Health and Community Medicine.
Institute head Prof Dr David Perera in a press statement had said that they had forwarded the latest findings to the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee.
“The six positive cases of the new variant Arcturus were found from active samplings of 33 patients from February 20 to April 13.
“Arcturus is responsible for a dramatic rise in infections in many countries, including in India.
"We in Sarawak must take extra precautions, especially during the festive period.
“The Omicron variant remains the dominant variant in Sarawak, with several different sub-variants circulating in the state,” said Dr Perera. – The Vibes, April 28, 2023
