VISITING DURING FESTIVE CELEBRATIONS
KUCHING: The Sarawak Patriots Association (SPA) raised concerns that visiting during the upcoming festive seasons could increase the chances of Covid-19 transmissions and even a second wave, if precautions and standard operating procedures (SOPs) are not in order.
Its chairman Datuk Dr John Lau Pang Heng said that the association over the past two days had received phone calls from citizens expressing their concern over the permitted first-day of visiting for close relatives and neighbours during Hari Raya and Gawai celebrations.
“Though the number of visitors is limited to 20 persons, most of the houses are longhouses, kampung (village) houses, terrace houses, or semi-detached houses.
“Allowing 20 persons in these houses may be congested and there is no guarantee of social distancing,” he said in a statement yesterday.
He said that if any of the visitors was infected with Covid-19, this might lead to those in contact with him or her during the festive season to be infected as well.
He said that many citizens were worried that this might lead to a second wave of Covid-19.
“Those visiting during the festive seasons may forget to wash their hands and have their temperature taken,” he said.
He further said that if every family needed to purchase infrared thermometers to take the temperature of their visitors, it would incur an additional cost.
Meanwhile, Lau noted that during the conditional movement control order (CMCO), manufacturers and industries were spending additional costs to sanitise their workplaces and factories three times a day.
“The cost of sanitising a factory of 6,000 square feet may be RM19,500 per day for the three times of sanitisation,” he said.
He also commended the Health Ministry for their efforts during the movement control order (MCO), implementing strict measures and regulations.
“We hope that every citizen will take personal precautions, care, and measures to keep healthy and safe. Together, we can eradicate Covid-19,” he said.
