MIRI – A woman in Kuching was found positive for the Omicron variant in what could be the state’s first case involving local transmission.
The woman, who has no recent history of travelling out of Sarawak, is among four new Omicron cases detected in Sarawak, according to Universiti Malaysia Sarawak’s Institute of Community Health and Medicine today.
“This is possibly a local infection and transmission of Omicron,” said institute director Prof Dr David Perera, adding that the institute is investigating the case in depth.
The other three cases are a 52-year-old man in Bintulu who had returned from Nigeria, a 19-year-old man in Bintulu who returned from the United Kingdom, and a 25-year-old woman in Kuching who had also returned from the UK.
Dr Perera, a member of Sarawak’s Covid-19 advisory group, advised Sarawakians to exercise additional precautions in view of the presence of the Omicron variant.
“In light of the travelling that will happen during this festive period, the public needs to be extra cautious.
“Every standard operating procedure in place must be adhered to without compromise,” he said, urging individuals who have not obtained their booster shots to “get them fast.”
Sarawak had been badly affected by the Delta variant earlier, having recorded the worst transmission and death rates in the country for the said variant. – The Vibes, December 24, 2021
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