MIRI – State authorities are converting school hostels in Kuching into Covid-19 treatment facilities as daily cases soar in the capital.
State Disaster Management Committee adviser Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian said there is a need to utilise these hostels as isolation and treatment centres for low-risk patients.
“We need to set up more centres for patients under Category 1 and 2, who cannot be quarantined at home.
“We have identified two schools so far in Kuching for this purpose.
“These centres will ensure our hospitals are not overwhelmed by the sheer number of increasing daily cases in Kuching,” he said in his social media updates.
Dr Sim, who is also state local government and housing minister, said the vaccination programme for teenagers will be announced to the public soon.
Sarawak is expected to initiate its vaccination drive for teens aged 15 to 17 this week, with those aged between 12 to 14 to follow.
Dr Sim said the state needs to vaccinate as many people as possible.
“Now that most of our adults are vaccinated, we need to give attention to the teenagers.
“The swift surge of infections in Kuching is reflective of the Delta variant’s pattern,” he said.
He said efforts are being made to prepare an additional 1,000 beds for Sarawak General Hospital and for low-risk treatment centres in Kuching.
At present, Sarawak is experiencing a sharp increase in Delta variant cases.
The Delta variant was detected in 73% of Covid-19 cases that underwent genomic tests in Sarawak on August 10.
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), which is carrying out genomic testing on behalf of the state Disaster Management Committee, had revealed these findings on Saturday.
On August 3, an additional 180 cases involving the Delta variant were discovered by Unimas, including two Beta variant cases and seven cases involving a new Indonesian variant of concern.
At present, Sarawak has discovered more than 700 cases involving Covid-19 variants, of which a majority involve the Delta variant, with Selangor in second place with 31 Delta infections as of last week.
Sarawak has recorded nearly 500 Covid-19 deaths and some 92,000 infections to date. – The Vibes, August 23, 2021
