MIRI – A state minister has warned that an attitude of “blissful ignorance” is setting in among the people of Sarawak who are unconcerned that Covid-19 is still spreading quickly but silently through communities.
State Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian today released alarming information that Covid-19 infections have been detected in 77 locations in the state capital Kuching over the past 24 hours.
“We must not panic about the numbers alone, but be more worried that we are blissfully ignorant and missing (to notice) those who are positive, those who continue to transmit in our local communities.
“Some 227 cases were reported by the Kuching Health Department (from 12am Sunday to 12am yesterday).
“There are 166 close contacts for the positive cases in 77 locations all over Kuching,” he said in his social media posts.
Dr Sim said the locations in Kuching with three or more new cases over the past day are Kg Bintawa Hilir (26 cases), Immigration Kuching centre (15), Jln Lapangan Terbang (seven), Jln Bako (seven), Hostel KFC Bako (six), Jln Bumbok (six), Jln Stakan Jamboree (five), Kg Telaga Air (four), Kg Goebilt (four), Tmn Desa Moyan (four), Jln Sourabaya Indah (three), Kg Bidek (three), Kg Lintang (three), Kg Nyiru Grait (three), Taman Segedup (three), and Taman Yen Yen (three).
He warned that community transmission is swift but silent.
“We Sarawakians must be on the highest alert and not be naïve in thinking that our cases are low already,” he said.
Two men brought into the hospital dead due to Covid-19 yesterday are among the three latest coronavirus deaths in this state.
A man aged 76 in Sarikei district was brought dead into Sarikei Hospital, the cause confirmed as due to Covid-19.
The State Disaster Management Committee secretariat said that in Bukit Mabong district, a man aged 79 was found dead at home, also confirmed to be due to the virus when brought to Kapit Hospital.
Another coronavirus fatality yesterday involved a 50-year-old woman in Sarawak General Hospital in Kuching.
The death toll from this pandemic in Sarawak as of yesterday stands at 447, the secretariat said in a press statement.
Kuching continues to record the highest new daily Covid-19 infections in Sarawak, a trend seen for the past four days running.
Two new clusters were announced yesterday. The Pagar Satok cluster involves 24 detainees in the Satok police station lock-up in Kuching.
The Jalan Selalang cluster in Sarikei involves 37 people in a longhouse who were infected with Covid-19 during a social event. – The Vibes, July 20, 2021
