MIRI – Sarawakians have been told not to travel between urban and rural locations in view of the rise in Covid-19 transmission due to inter-district movements.
“There are cases of families living at rural longhouses who went to town for an outing, and the children got infected,” said Bintulu MP and Progressive Democratic Party president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing in his social media chats.
“When these families returned to their longhouses, the virus spread to the rest of the longhouse folk.
“There are incidents of entire longhouses being placed under the enhanced movement control order due to this.”
He said residents in outlying areas should not travel to town areas, or return to their longhouses if they are in town, until it is safe.
“Unless we are disciplined, there will be no end to such transmissions, especially involving the Delta variant, which is spreading fast.”
He again reminded families of the fact that Covid-19 vaccination for those below 18 has not started.
The most vulnerable are the young ones as they are not yet vaccinated. So, parents and families must exercise extra precautions.”
Yesterday, a 17-year-old boy died of Covid-19 at Sarawak General Hospital in Kuching – the state’s youngest virus fatality.
He was one of the three new deaths reported by the state Disaster Management Committee (DMC) secretariat.
The other two were a man aged 66, who died in Song district, and a 78-year-old man, who died at Sarawak General Hospital.
The latest deaths take the state’s virus toll to 513.
Those who are not yet vaccinated against the disease have been barred from entering business premises and government departments.
“We have imposed measures to try and reduce the spread of Covid-19 in the community and workplaces.
“Individuals who are not vaccinated are not allowed to enter or work at these public premises or business offices.
“It is not an infringement of human rights. The move is to protect the community at large,” said the state DMC yesterday.
It said 87.3% of adults in Sarawak are fully vaccinated.
The state yesterday logged 2,224 infections, with its capital Kuching in the lead (906 cases), followed by Samarahan (210), Serian (158), Sibu (125) and other districts (below 100). – The Vibes, August 28, 2021
