COMPLACENCY in the use of facemasks in public, plus lax personal hygiene such as in not washing hands when preparing food has fuelled the resurgence of Covid-19 infections, said Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian today.
He said people have become complacent that the viral infections is rising again and there are even new deaths as a result.
Dr Sim, who is also state minister for public health, housing and local government, said authorities are looking at the rising infections with concern.
“During the Covid-19 crisis, we had a public lockdown, and the public took seriously the need to use facemasks and practice strict personal hygiene, but these have become very lax nowadays.
“Lockdown is not an option anymore. So the only way to deal with the resurgence is to go back to precautions like the use of facemask and strict observation of personal hygiene when in public places,” he told reporters in Kuching today.
Dr Sim said those experiencing Covid-like symptoms such as high fever, severe coughing and other ailments must immediately go to the nearest clinic or hospital to seek help.
“The government already made the Paxlovid oral medication for free to the public,” he said.
“Vaccination has already been in place. The government have done its part in the fight against Covid 19.”
He called on the people to respond accordingly and play their part in curbing the rise in infections.
Yesterday, the state disaster management committee warned the public to be extra cautious as Covid-19 infections seem to be rising.
Committee chairman Datuk Douglas Uggah said the state is liaising with the federal Health Ministry to deal with the latest situation.
“We are now awaiting directives from the federal Health Ministry, whether any new measures are needed to deal with the rising infections,” he said.
On November 29, it was reported that Covid-19 is still a deadly threat in Sarawak, with new infections and new deaths recorded every month in the state,” he said.
Dr Sim had warned in the state assembly recently that the death toll in Sarawak had already reached 1,793 as of November 15.
Since the first case was detected in Sarawak in March 2020, 328,256 positive patients have been recorded statewide until November 18.
Dr Sim said all the Sarawak hospitals are prepared to deal with any imminent surges in the Covid 19 cases. – The Vibes, December 10, 2023.
