MIRI – An infant only 1 year old has been found to be infected by Covid-19 in Bintulu town in northern Sarawak.
Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing described this development as testimony that the virus is still a serious threat.
“A 1-year-old baby in Bintulu has become the youngest victim of Covid-19.
“The growing trend of the young who are not vaccinated against Covid-19 being infected by the virus is very alarming in Sarawak,” he said, stressing that many under 18 years old are being infected in Bintulu.
“Young people must not be exposed to the infection threats that are present all over. Families must stop going out unless it is very necessary, but do not bring little children to public places,” he said in a social media chat today.
Tiong, who is Progressive Democratic Party chief, said that previously on August 5 a 2-year-old was also infected in Bintulu after the parents brought the toddler out shopping.
He said it is regrettable that such a young child has to suffer from the virus due to carelessness of parents.
He warned against too much socialising, even though most parts of Sarawak have been placed under Phase 3 of the National Recovery Plan (NRP), except for Kuching, Serian, Samarahan, Bau, Lundu and Tebedu districts (all still in Phase 2).
“Parents must realise there are still lots of risks of infection out there. There are many who think they can bring their families out for shopping and social outings already.
“The people must not have this careless mindset. The threat of infections is still high, especially with the Delta variant around,” he said.
Bintulu has joined a list of districts in Sarawak seeing the variant spreading.
Kuching, Serian, Samarahan, Bau, Lundu, Tebedu, Sibu and Miri also reported cases from the variant, with Kuching in the lead.
Sarawak ill-equipped to manage pandemic
Many people have said it is still too risky for Sarawak to be placed under Phase 3 of the NRP.
A state minister, a senior opposition MP and community organisations have warned that the Covid-19 situation in Sarawak is still dangerous.
State Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian had said the state will have to reinforce all its existing standard operating procedures (SOPs).
“The Delta variant is surging, especially in districts of Kuching, Samarahan and Serian.
“Phase 3 has seen the opening of more activities and increase in movement of the people.
“This requires extreme caution as it is still very risky in terms of infection spread,” he said in his social media chat.
Sarawak PKR vice-chairman Dr Michael Teo Yu Keng told The Vibes that the state is not equipped to deal with mass infection surges of the variant.
“The government leaders think that increase in vaccinations means we are safe to open up to more social and economic activities,” said the Baram MP, himself a medical doctor.
They are wrong. Vaccination does not equate to full protection from Covid-19, especially the Delta variant. If we open our social and economic arenas too soon and too fast, there is a danger we will see infection spreading so swiftly that it cannot be controlled.”
Baram People’s Action Committee chairman Philip Jau said vaccination rounds in rural settlements are not even complete yet.
“There are still many rural people not fully vaccinated. We are still seeing infections increasing in some areas. This is not the time yet to open up on the social fronts,” he said.
Community elder of Lakiput minority group Michael Ding said the reality on the ground is that ordinary folks at the grassroots are still seeing infections fluctuating here and there.
“It is not wise to reopen social and economic activities too soon,” he said.
Datuk Idris Buang, information chief of Gabungan Parti Sarawak, said the Covid-19 situation in Sarawak is still volatile.
“The infections are still high in places like Kuching. We have not reached a stable situation yet,” he said.
On August 4, then prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin had moved Sarawak, Labuan and Perlis into Phase 3 of the NRP.
He had said the vaccination process had progressed well and critical virus cases had declined in these states.
However, it is clear that in Sarawak, local NGOs and elected representatives do not agree.
The state Disaster Management Committee had decided that southern Sarawak districts will remain under Phase 2 as the infections there continue to climb.
Yesterday, a curfew from 10am to 5pm was imposed in the districts of Kuching, Bau, Lundu, Samarahan, Serian, Tebedu and Simunjan. – The Vibes, August 21, 2021
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