KOTA KINABALU – More low-risk quarantine centres should be opened so home-surveillance covid patients can get proper treatment, said Api-Api assemblyman Datuk Christina Liew.
The Sabah Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman said Categories 1 and 2 patients should be put under one roof so they will not risk infecting others, especially family members.
“Not only that, there is a possibility that their condition will deteriorate and progress to Categories 3, 4 or 5 without proper management,” said the state PKR head as she called for the Sabah Health Department to be more transparent on the way they are treating home surveillance patients.
The former deputy chief minister had expressed her concern over the rising Covid-19 deaths in the state, including those who were fully vaccinated during her debate on the governor’s opening address at the Sabah assembly today.
Beginning August this year, Sabah has continued to record a high daily mortality figure.
“On September 12, Sabah recorded the highest number of Covid-19 deaths in a single day, with 84 cases, since the pandemic hit the country last year.
“Although Sabah lately has shown a downtrend in the total number of new Covid-19 cases daily, our state is still among the top five states in the country in terms of the highest number of positive cases daily.
“As of September 21, Sabah recorded a total of 1,949 deaths since the pandemic last year,” she said.
The lawmaker voiced her worry over the high contagious Delta variant capable of infecting those who have been fully vaccinated.
She said that the federal and state administration with the rakyat must leave no stone unturned in their efforts to combat the Delta variant from taking roots in Sabah, saying that the last thing anyone wants is a “Delta catastrophe” there.
On another note, Liew also called on the government to allow the spa industry to operate.
“Currently, they are still not allowed to reopen their businesses under this second phase of the National Recovery Plan.
“I urge the government to duly consider the appeal of the Malaysian Association of Wellness and Spa and Association of Malaysian Spas to allow their members to operate but with strict standard operating procedures in the forthcoming third phase of the NRP.
“I appeal to the government to allow the spa industry to operate from October before the fourth phase of the NRP begins,” she said. – The Vibes, September 22, 2021
