Malaysia

Sarawak in ‘most crucial stage’ of Covid-19 war, state leaders warn

Dr Annuar Rapaee, Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian stress importance of strictly adhering to SOPs, signing up for vaccination

Updated 5 years ago · Published on 19 May 2021 1:46PM

Sarawak in ‘most crucial stage’ of Covid-19 war, state leaders warn — The next four to six weeks are the most important period for the Covid-19 immunisation campaign to attain success, says Sarawak Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian. – File pic, May 19, 2021

by Stephen Then

MIRI – Two Sarawak government leaders have warned that the state has entered the most crucial period of its struggle to eradicate the coronavirus.

“We have entered the most crucial stage in this bitter war with Covid-19,” said state Public Health Assistant Minister Dr Annuar Rapaee today.

“Our vaccination programme must work effectively as planned, and the current transmission rate in the community must be reduced swiftly.

“We must achieve these aims in order to flatten the rising curve of transmission and fatalities.

“Cooperation from the rakyat is especially crucial.”

In social media discussions with his constituents in the Nangka state seat in Sibu division, Dr Annuar, who is also coordinator of the division Disaster Management Committee (DMC), said infections and fatalities in the state remain very high.

Sarawak Public Health Assistant Minister Dr Annuar Rapaee says the Covid-19 transmission rate in the community must be swiftly reduced. – Facebook pic, May 19, 2021

Meanwhile, state Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, in a social media update in Kuching, said the Sarawak government is doing all it can to ramp up the statewide vaccination drive.

He said the next four to six weeks are the most important period for the immunisation campaign to attain success.

“We are expected to receive more vaccine doses in June and July.

“The rakyat must cooperate by registering for vaccination, and at the same time, they must adhere strictly to all the SOPs and enhanced SOPs in place.”

He noted that the Covid-19 fatality rate and transmission pattern in Sarawak are surging at a worrying pace.

Sarawak Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian says the state government is doing all it can to ramp up the Covid-19 vaccination drive. – Wikipedia pic, May 19, 2021

The state saw another five virus deaths yesterday, along with 512 new infections and two clusters.

The deaths of two women, both aged 73, and a 64-year-old man at Kapit Hospital, and two women, aged 51 and 70, at Sibu Hospital were confirmed by the state DMC secretariat yesterday evening.

These take the state’s virus death toll to 230.

Miri recorded 96 new cases, Bintulu (91), Sibu (69), Kapit (51), Kuching (46), Betong (35), Mabong (20), Sri Aman (18) and other districts (fewer than 10).

The secretariat once again urged people to adhere to the SOPs to contain the disease. – The Vibes, May 19, 2021