A GROUP of people had just flown into Miri from another destination in Sarawak and upon checking into a hotel, found that some were getting rather ill. It was discovered shortly after that they tested positive for Covid-19.
I was told that they arrived here on a full flight for a business trip. The question is, how did they get infected and what was the source of their infection?
Health authorities are investigating this now.
Were they infected before they got on the aircraft, or while on board? Or perhaps, they got infected in Miri after landing? Are the other passengers at risk of infection too? What about the other hotel guests? There are so many questions that keep cropping up.
And there are probably many cases like this happening all over – of people getting infected suddenly with Covid-19 because the Delta variant is within the community.
Miri and the rest of Sarawak are seeing a surge in the movement of people after the state opened up last Friday, with more than 80 flights per day at 100% passenger capacity.
Sarawak had, on that day, also fully restarted operations in its tour and business packages, tourism resorts and hotels.
Sarawak Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Hamzah said tourism sectors will be revived, and police permits for tour groups to travel through districts will be relaxed.
“As we open up for tourism, we must relax the restrictions on the movement of people. However, we will ensure all SOPs are followed,” he said.
Airlines will also be allowed to operate at full passenger capacity for interstate travellers and from neighbouring countries.
The state Disaster Management Committee secretariat had announced that more social sectors like gaming outlets, entertainment outlets such as bistros and pubs, and health and wellness centres including spas and massage centres can operate with full SOPs starting last Friday.
Hotels are operating at full capacity for guests, too.
However, the secretariat warned that children below 12 and those unvaccinated must stay away from public places as the risk of Covid-19 infections is still high. It will do well to remind the public that even for those already fully vaccinated, the risk of them getting infected is still high as Sarawak is being plagued by the Delta variant.
Just because the state tourism minister and transport minister declared it fine to fully open, it does not mean the situation is safe. They are simply concerned about economic revival.
The reality is that there has been more than 800 Covid-19 deaths and above 200,000 infections to date in Sarawak, with most of them occurring over the past few months.
The reality is that the situation on the ground is still highly risky, and the possibility of catching Covid-19 and suffering long-term health defects is high.
Sarawak ministers have opted to open up the state almost totally, but at what price? – The Vibes, October 3, 2021
Stephen Then is a reporter at The Vibes
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