KUCHING: Sarawak must learn through past experience in dealing with the Covid-19 epidemic though the surge in the disease now is not serious.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said everyone should do their part, including maintaining a distance from one another, practising good hygiene, and wearing masks in crowded spaces.
He advised those in the high-risk groups to get the second booster dose (fourth dose).
According to him, Sarawak’s second Covid-19 booster vaccination rate at 3.6 per cent.
“Sarawak supports the Health Ministry’s five-point strategy to deal with the recent increase in Covid-19 cases in the country as well as the decision not to reactivate the movement control order (MCO).
“But, we must continue to practise TRIIS (test, report, isolate, inform and seek) if symptomatic,” he wrote on his Facebook page last night.
Dr Sim said anyone with flu symptoms must not wait but instead proceed to do the Rapid Test Kit-Antigen (RTK-AG).
Those who tested positive should get the Paxlovid (an oral antiviral pill used to treat Covid-19) as early as possible for it to be effective to prevent severe symptoms.
The state Health Department, he said, has assured that the oral Paxlovid is available at any public and private healthcare facilities in Sarawak.
Those who contract Covid-19 now must quarantine themselves for five days.
A total of 20,696 cases were reported nationwide from Dec 10 to 16, a sharp increase of 62.2 per cent compared to the previous week.
Of the total new cases, 20,677 comprise Malaysians, and 609 are foreigners. There have also been 19 imported cases involving 18 Malaysians and one foreigner.
According to the Health Ministry, currently, there are 18 clusters recorded nationwide.
Meanwhile, 28 deaths have been recorded, 151 patients are currently in the intensive care unit (ICU), and 96 people require breathing assistance.
