KUCHING: Allowing social gatherings in Covid-19 green and yellow zones without inter-zone travel restrictions may be counter-productive, says Dr Kelvin Yii.
The Bandar Kuching MP added that not having inter-zone restrictions had created an obvious loophole which people could exploit.
“People who want to attend social events — weddings, parties, things like that — can just go. The risk is that we may increase the risk of bringing the virus from a red or orange zone to a yellow or green zone,” he said here on Monday (April 5).
“On top of that, the risk is that it may spread to the local community when they drop by a nearby town or market.
“That is why without inter-zone travel restrictions, we may not be able to firstly protect these green or yellow zones, but also risk the virus spreading at these social events.”
He reiterated that Sarawak Health director Dr Chin Zin Hing recently mentioned that public gatherings were the main factor behind the spike in Covid-19 cases and clusters in Sarawak this year.
“Dr Chin mentioned an analysis by the Health Department that indicated funerals contributed to four clusters ranging from 25 to 2,000 cases each, while social gatherings led to 11 clusters with 17 to 61 cases each.
“That is why when it comes to public gatherings, extra precautions must be taken. That is why I believe such policy must be properly thought through and loopholes be addressed.”
Dr Yii suggested that one of the options which Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) could look to implement was the need for a proper permit to have social events such as weddings.
“To obtain such permits, they can monitor the location where it is being held and where the participants will be coming from.
“That way, there is an additional layer of protection. While I understand it may cause inconvenience, certain steps have to be taken to properly to protect us all.”
On April 4, SDMC chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas announced that organising social events in red and orange zones was not allowed.
However, organising social events such as weddings, engagements, receptions, aqiqah ceremonies, prayers, tahlil, birthday celebrations, reunions, retreats, and other social ceremonies are allowed in the green and yellow zones with not more than 50 per cent capacity.
