MIRI – The movement of people in and out of rural Sarawak due to the 15th general election (GE15) has reached uncontrolled proportions, fuelling fears that it may help the spread of the deadly Covid-19 Omicron XBB variant.
Social activist Willie Kajan of Mulu National Park told The Vibes today that rural polling districts are seeing a surge in all kinds of election-related activities.
He is especially worried following the disclosure yesterday that Sarawak already has confirmed XBB cases.
“We in the rural areas are seeing a surge in the number of outsiders,” he said.
These include security and enforcement agencies, government officials, political campaigners, and workers from various parties.
“These outsiders can be found in increasing numbers in all polling districts,” Kajan said. “There are many who are not wearing facemasks in crowded places.
“Now that the new XBB variant has already been detected, there should be a stricter movement control of outsiders into the rural settlements.
“We rural folks don’t want to see a repeat of frightening outbreaks during the first and second waves of Covid-19 that saw uncontrolled infections throughout rural Sarawak two years ago,” he said.
Yesterday, it was announced that Sarawak has uncovered two people infected by the highly contagious XBB Omicron Covid-19 strain.
The cases involved a tourist from the US and a local returning from the Umrah pilgrimage.
They were detected by the Unimas (Universiti Malaysia Sarawak) Institute of Health and Community Medicine through samplings carried out last month.
State Disaster Management Committee chairman Datuk Doulas Uggah said there could be more such cases in the community and urged the public to take extra precautions. – The Vibes, November 4, 2022
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