MIRI – There are no longer safe localities in Sarawak based on Covid-19 transmission trends and fatalities, said the state PKR as it pushes for the imposition of the movement control order.
Its deputy chief, Dr Michael Teo Yu Keng, who is also Miri MP, told The Vibes today that the transmission is inter-district in nature, as well as occurring within each district and locality.
“Under the current circumstances, the only thing left that can possibly halt the spread of infections and fatalities in Sarawak is a total lockdown, plus a fast-tracked vaccination exercise in every district.”
He said the immunisation effort in the state is too slow.
Sarawak, and Malaysia in general, must compare the progress of their battle against Covid-19 with that of countries like Israel, he said.
“Israel now has a daily average of only three deaths and low infections despite its concentrated population. This is because 75% of its people have been vaccinated during a period of total lockdown.
“The speed of vaccination is crucial, and it can be accomplished faster in a total lockdown.”
Dr Teo expressed concern about the coronavirus variants emerging in Sarawak, and the high infectivity rate in communities.
Yesterday, Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii said the Covid-19 positivity rate in the state has hit 14.49% – nearly three times above the 5% considered acceptable by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
This is made worse following the emergence of the foreign P.3 variant in Sarawak.
Dr Yii said the figures are based on data from the state Health Department.
“From the data collected from health authorities, the Covid-19 rate of transmission in Sarawak (as of yesterday) is 14.49%. This is almost three times above the 5% positive rate considered by WHO as acceptable.
“This very high positive rate of Covid-19 transmission per 100,000 population in Sarawak is one of the highest rates of transmission in the entire country now, and it is very serious.
“Also, there is a high percentage of sporadic infections – which means carriers are not linked to any known clusters in Sarawak. All these factors show that Covid-19 is widespread in our communities, both in urban and rural areas.”
The DAP lawmaker said there is an urgent need to ramp up screening, especially in rural areas that lack health facilities.
According to WHO guidelines, the higher the positive rate, the higher the rate of transmission.
Last week, state Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian said the discovery of the P.3 strain has put the authorities on high alert.
“Unimas (Universiti Malaysia Sarawak) and Scovag (Sarawak Covid-19 Vaccine Advisory Group) made the latest findings on the P.3 variant in their genetics survey concerning this fourth wave in Sarawak.
“The P.3 variant was first reported in the Philippines in March, and was identified in imported cases in the UK. We in Sarawak need to be more vigilant and alert than ever before with the emergence of the P.3 variant in the state.”
As of yesterday evening, Sarawak’s virus death toll stood at 184, with some 32,000 infections statewide. – The Vibes, May 4, 2021
