MIRI – Although Sarawak is moving into Phase 2 of the National Recovery Plan, residents are advised to continue to take precaution due to the variants detected in the state.
State Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian said there is still a chance of more Covid-19 outbreaks in Sarawak due to the detection of variants such as the Delta strain.
“We must be very cautious even as we have to reopen more economic sectors as we enter Phase 2. The foreign variants present now, including the Delta variant in Kuching, can create more aggressive outbreaks, especially in densely populated areas like Kuching city.
“We do not want Phase 2 to be short and cause even more severe outbreaks in Sarawak,” he said on his social media platforms today.
He added that the state needs to carry out more aggressive detection of infections especially in high-risk areas such as workplace and housing areas.
Sarawak has seen more than 69,000 Covid-19 infections so far.
There are also about five dozen cases of Covid-19 foreign variants in the state discovered by Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, including the Delta, Eta, Beta, Alpha and Theta variants.
The state will enter Phase 2 of the National Recovery Plan starting tomorrow.
The Sarawak Disaster Management Committee secretariat yesterday said the state will progress into the second phase of economic recovery, which allows dine-ins at eateries and more business sectors to reopen. – The Vibes, July 13, 2021