KUCHING: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Youth chief Datuk Snowdan Lawan has urged those in Covid-19 red zones to postpone returning to their longhouses during the coming Gawai in an effort to curb potential Covid-19 transmissions.
He expressed concern that community immunity was at stake in rural longhouses if people in red zones such as Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu, and Miri chose to return.
He pointed out that daily reports on the Covid-19 situation here continued to be alarming and unpredictable, with rising numbers and deaths recorded almost on a daily basis.
“That leaves us with no choice but rather be safe by staying at home,” said the Balai Ringin assemblyman on Wednesday (May 12).
“Better not to take chances. Covid-19 has no mercy. It is us who determine for ourselves whether to go merrymaking during this coming Gawai and risk becoming infected.”
As such, he said it might be a good idea to forego returning to longhouses for Gawai this year. He added that this was also a form of savings as well.
“We need not end up regretting succumbing our ageing parents or relatives to infections.”
Snowdan said longhouse residents must be mindful of unknown visitors or potential unknown carriers of the virus.
“Confine your reunion or ‘ngabang’ within your family circle. Avoid large gatherings and don’t overdo the merrymaking.
“Follow the standard operating procedure (SOP) prescribed by the authorities and practise good personal hygiene to curb the spread of this pandemic and secure community immunity.”
