KOTA KINABALU – With Sabah recording yet another new high in its daily Covid-19 cases yesterday at 5,565 cases, many have been left wondering what exactly caused the drastic increase in the rate of infections.
A month ago, on January 18, the state recorded 201 new cases, which grew to 909 new cases two weeks ago on February 4.
This means that Sabah’s Covid-19 cases increased over 27 times in a month, and over six times in two weeks.
Social media users claim that there has been overcrowding at several events, especially during the recent Chinese New Year celebration, contributing to the spike in cases.
Many occasions and events, especially lion dance performances in shopping malls and supermarkets in the state, drew huge crowds.
As seen in videos uploaded by users on YouTube and Facebook, the crowds can be observed not practising safe social distancing.
Among such videos are that of a lion dance performance at Gaya Street, uploaded on January 30.
Others include similar performances at a mall here, and at a commercial centre in Penampang, which were uploaded on January 31.
Another video, uploaded on February 2, shows footage of huge crowds at Sejati Walk Sandakan, including children, enjoying a lion dance performance.
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How strict is Covid-19 SOP enforcement in Sabah?
While such events were allowed by the government, the crowds they drew prompted questions about the standard operating procedures (SOPs), including safe social distancing.
However, based on Sabah Covid-19 spokesman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun’s daily update, the enforcement agencies have only been issuing compounds mostly on premises owners for operating beyond the allowed hours since January 25, when the current Covid-19 surge began.
There have also been about fewer than five compounds a day issued against those failing to scan MySejahtera before entering certain premises.
On Chinese New Year eve, a total of 43 people were issued with compounds for not practising safe social distancing in entertainment outlets.
The figures show that enforcement agencies in the state have not taken action against most, if not all, of the Chinese New Year events, such as the lion dance performances mentioned above.
While there is no denying that the people were becoming relaxed about the SOPs due to the stable pattern of Covid-19 cases in the state before Chinese New Year, is the people’s negligence the only thing at fault in the surge of the virus in Sabah, or could it have been avoided if there was tighter enforcement of SOPs in place?
The Vibes is currently awaiting comments from Masidi and Sabah health department Director Datuk Dr Rose Nani on the issue. – The Vibes, February 19, 2022
