MIRI – The public’s disregard for health standard operating procedures (SOPs) and the lack of effective enforcement have caused a resurgence of Covid-19 in Sarawak, said state DAP veteran Chiew Ching Sing.
The Tg Batu assemblyman said the rise in Covid-19 infections in Sarawak for the past few weeks is not surprising.
There have been many warning signs pointing to more cases, the six-term assemblyman told The Vibes today.
“Infections have not only been detected in cities such as Kuching, Miri, Bintulu and Sibu, but also in longhouses in the rural areas.
“The Health Ministry has drawn up strict SOPs, which are effective if obeyed by the general public, and if strictly enforced by the enforcement authorities like the police and local councils.
“However, it is evident that there is blatant disregard by the public, many of whom are not wearing face masks and adhering to the required social distancing.
“The ministry’s advice to cut down the size of social gatherings is often not followed.
Chiew said it is alarming to note that the Covid-19 infections from the Pasai Siong cluster in Sibu, central Sarawak, have spread to the Sebauh district, north of the state, within two days.
“Sebauh is nearby my Tg Batu constituency and more than 200km away from Sibu.
“This shows that the spread of the Covid-19 is worsening in Sarawak.”
Chiew said the police, local councils, health departments and community leaders in every locality must form enforcement units and go to the grassroots to strictly enforce every SOP.
Violators of SOPs must be penalised immediately, he added.
Over the past three days, Kuching and Sibu have turned from yellow to red zones while Miri and Bintulu have become yellow zones after a sudden spike in Covid-19 cases.
The exponential rise in cases in Sibu started two days ago at a funeral ceremony in a longhouse called Rumah Langi, 60km from Sibu town.
The ceremony was attended by hundreds of natives from Rumah Langi and surrounding longhouses.
A lockdown has been imposed in that locality. – The Vibes, January 11, 2021
