KUCHING – The movement control order (MCO) imposed on Sibu comes five days late, as the 37 cases from the Pasai Siong cluster sprung up on January 9, shattering the green-zone label enjoyed by the district.
In just five days, 462 cases emerged from this cluster, spreading to other areas in Sarawak, including Sri Aman, Sebauh, Miri, Dalat, Kanowit, Belaga, Kuching, Bintulu and Semunjan.
“That is an average of 92.4 new cases every day from this cluster alone,” Bukit Assek assemblyman Irene Chang told The Vibes today.
She said based on a statement released by the state Disaster Management Committee yesterday, 1,400 individuals linked to the cluster have been tested, with 888 testing negative and 50 still awaiting results.
Tip of the iceberg
“Since it is not known if the contact tracing from this cluster has been completed, the extent of its true damage is still unknown. If we look at the committee’s list of locations where these infected individuals had visited before they were traced and quarantined, it seems that there is no place in Sibu not struck by the virus.
“The Pasai Siong cluster could have been prevented if the committee had not allowed home quarantine to be practised here from December last year.”
Chang said the people of Sibu are now paying a heavy price for the mistake made by the committee.
“Deputy Chief Minister James Masing had on January 11 apologised to the people for this mistake. If we want to move forward and see the situation improve, the apology should translate into action.”
Caseloads at breaking point
Chang said the first thing that the committee has to do is prevent government hospitals from being overwhelmed by the rising cases.
“This is crucial as the Health Ministry has warned that our healthcare system is at its breaking point.
“In fact, Sibu Hospital is already operating on borrowed capacity, as it was previously reported that its capacity for coronavirus cases is almost at 75%. The nurses’ hostel at the hospital has also been converted to house Covid-19 patients.
“Given the surging number of daily cases, this will soon be a common scenario in all government hospitals in Sarawak if the virus is not contained. The only way to do this is for the committee to declare the whole of Sarawak as a red zone, or place the whole state under MCO for at least 2 weeks.
“This is to restrict movement between all districts and divisions until the reach of existing clusters, especially the Pasai Siong cluster, can be accurately assessed and processed.”
She called for mass swab testing to be carried out in every town and district to gauge the spread of infection.
She also pointed out that systematic disinfection and fumigation need to be constantly carried out in all public places and locations where an infected person has visited.
Prevent new strain from rampaging
Chang said the committee should also take serious note that the more infectious variant of the virus, known as the UK B117, has reportedly reached Peninsular Malaysia.
“If Sarawak is not placed under total lockdown for at least a short duration, it will only be a matter of time before this variant reaches the state, if it is not here already.
“Since this variant is known to be highly infectious and can spread easily, its presence will definitely break our buckling health system.”
However, she agrees that economic concerns brought in by the MCO could be severe, but said it will be the lesser of two evils.
“This scenario is playing out in the United Kingdom and is bringing the country to its knees.
“If the committee does not want Sarawakians to again pay a hefty price for its mistake, it needs to act fast and rein in the virus before it destroys the economic and social fabric of the state.” – The Vibes, January 15, 2021
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