SIBU: The war against Covid-19 is a marathon and not a sprint, said Senator Robert Lau Hui Yew.
“Our mindset has to be tuned in that direction. The new norm has to be ingrained,” he said in a statement on July 27.
Lau pointed out that Sarawak had done well to flatten the curve over the last few months at a huge price to the economy and the livelihood of the people.
The spike in Covid-19 cases in Kuching and the surrounding divisions were causes for concern, he added.
“The fear now is the second wave when people are weary and letting down their guards.
“It’s hard to change habits and practices that we have been used to for so long,” he said.
Lau said two news items that caught his attention were the planned reduction of flights to and from Malaya and the few thousand cases of home quarantined persons in Malaya who failed to report for tests after the completion of their quarantine.
He said it was ironic to have positive cases among those returning from Malaya to Sarawak when Malaya reported very low numbers.
“This can only mean there wasn’t enough testing being carried out in Malaya. We do not hear of Sarawakians bringing the virus to Malaya, he said.
Lau added the move to reduce the number of flights between Malaya and Sarawak was correct to prevent further outbreaks in the state.
“Similarly, the re-imposition of travel restrictions to and from any red zones in Sarawak is needed to prevent the spread,” he said.
