MIRI – Three million people in Sarawak have been warned against a more severe coronavirus variant following research findings by Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) health and community medicine director Prof Dr David Perera and his team.
In a statement, state Housing and Local Government Minister for Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian said: “Prof David and his team found that the Covid-19 virus is mutating in Sarawak, and that a more severe variant can appear any time. Our hospitals may be overwhelmed and death rates can increase rapidly.”
He said their research found that the virus mutation is especially profound in Sibu and Kuching. “The only way to prevent the state of public health from worsening, is getting everyone vaccinated.”
The minister added that unnecessary travel must be avoided, and that handwashing, sanitisation, and mask-wearing practised. “Do not take off your masks when in public.”
The state Disaster Management Committee yesterday extended the conditional movement control order in Sarawak until March 29.
Chairman Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas said the infection rate was still high in the state.
“We are putting up new standard operating procedures (SOPs) to control gatherings and movements of people including those in longhouses.”
Uggah said the state was mulling the federal decision to impose maximum fines of RM10,000 on SOP offenders.
“It is a federal decision, as announced by the Inspector General of Police. We in the state are still deciding whether to follow.”
So far, Sarawak has a total of 89 Covid-19 deaths and almost 12,000 cumulative infections. – The Vibes, March 13, 2021
