MIRI – A 2-year-old in Bintulu has contracted Covid-19 following a family shopping outing.
The constituency’s MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing today said it is regrettable that such a young child has to suffer due to carelessness on the parents’ part.
He warned against “too much” socialising even though most parts of the state are already under Phase 3 of the National Recovery Plan (NRP), with the exception of Kuching, Serian, Samarahan, Bau, Lundu and Tebedu, which are in Phase 2.
“The 2-year-old child has become the youngest Covid-19 patient in Bintulu. Did the parents realise there is still a high risk of infection out there? There are many who think they can bring their families out for shopping and social outings already.
“People must not be careless. The threat of infection is still high, especially with the Delta variant around,” said the Progressive Democratic Party president in his social media chats.
Many have said it is premature for Sarawak to enter Phase 3 now that the state has recorded cases involving the highly contagious Delta strain.
Sarawak Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian said the state must reinforce its existing standard operating procedures.
“The Delta variant is surging, especially in Kuching, Samarahan and Serian. Entering Phase 3 will see more activities allowed and an increase in the movement of people.
“This requires extreme caution. It is still very risky in terms of infection spread, especially with Delta.”
State PKR vice-chairman and Miri MP Dr Teo Yu Keng told The Vibes that Sarawak is not equipped to deal with infection surges involving the variant.
Government leaders are mistaken in their belief that an increase in vaccination means social and economic activities can resume as normal, he said, pointing out that immunisation does not accord full protection, especially against Delta.
“If we open up our social and economic areas too soon and too fast, there is a danger that we will see infections spreading so swiftly that they cannot be controlled.”
Baram People’s Action Committee chairman Philip Jau, meanwhile, said the vaccination drive in rural settlements is not yet completed.
Michael Ding, an elder in the Lakiput minority community, expressed surprise at the news on Sarawak entering Phase 3 of NRP.
“The reality on the ground is that we ordinary folk at the grassroots level are still seeing infections fluctuating. It is not wise to reopen social and economic activities too soon.”
Gabungan Parti Sarawak information chief Datuk Idris Buang agrees that the situation in the state remains volatile, noting the high infection rate in the state capital.
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin previously announced that Sarawak, Labuan and Perlis would enter Phase 3 yesterday.
He cited the progress of vaccination and declining Covid-19 cases in these states.
The state Disaster Management Committee yesterday decided that southern Sarawak will remain under Phase 2 due to the caseload there.
Sarawak yesterday logged 552 new infections, with 270 in Kuching alone. – The Vibes, August 5, 2021
