Malaysia

Sarawak must not wait for official Covid-19 directives, says minister

Dr Annuar says state should enforce preventive measures again especially in view of the holidays.

Updated 2 years ago · Published on 16 Dec 2023 5:58PM

Sarawak must not wait for official Covid-19 directives, says minister
Complacency on the use of facemasks in public, plus a lax in personal hygiene like washing hands and preparation of food has fuelled the resurgence of Covid 19 infections in Sarawak. – The Vibes file pic, December 16, 2023.

by Stephen Then

SARAWAK should immediately reinstate Covid-19 preventive measures without waiting for a federal directive, given the rising infections, said state Education, Innovation, and Talent Development Deputy Minister Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee.

“We have already gone through a Covid-19 outbreak in Sarawak.

“We know what the urgent measures we had implemented during the outbreak (from 2020 to 2022) are,” he said.

“Those measures like the mandatory use of facemasks in public, strict personal hygiene, avoiding crowds, social distancing and the use of hand sanitisers are still the same.

“We in Sarawak should practise this, especially in view of the holidays,“ he said when attending a community group activity in Sibu.

Dr Annuar said the Federal Health Ministry is mulling reintroducing strict preventive measures as infections are also increasing in the peninsula.

Sarawak must not wait for official directives, he stressed.

Complacency on the use of facemasks in public, plus a lax in personal hygiene like washing hands and preparation of food has fuelled the resurgence of Covid 19 infections in Sarawak, Deputy Premier Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian had said on December 10.

He said people in Sarawak have become too complacent; not wearing facemasks, not observing personal hygiene and not washing hands in public food outlets, which is why Covid-19 is rising again and there are even new deaths as a result. – The Vibes, December 16, 2023

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