KUCHING: From among the 211 positive Covid-19 cases reported in Bintulu Division on Wednesday (Sept 1), 24 were under the age of 18 years, the youngest being a two-year-old toddler.
“Do parents care about their children’s health or would they rather seek more immediate short-term conveniences by not caring about the safety guidelines?” Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said in a Facebook post on Wednesday night.
The 211 cases comprised 174 in Bintulu District, 32 in Tatau District, and five in Sebauh District.
The Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) president stressed that this was not the time for fun and enjoyment, especially with the Delta variant invading Bintulu.
“Rather, it is much more important now for everyone to be more cautious in preventing transmissions by complying with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) even more strictly than before. We must not treat the pandemic situation lightly now.
“Gatherings and parties are the worst activities anyone can do in this situation. It will bring more harm to the community in the name of short-term fun. Everyone must stay home as much as they can in order to protect each other.”
He said the doubling of cases overnight in Bintulu Division had resulted in the existing Quarantine and Low-Risk Treatment Centres (PKRCs) getting filled to capacity rapidly.
“There are nearly 400 confirmed cases who have not been arranged to be sent to PKRCs or hospitals, and about 300 at present are close contacts who can only be isolated at home.”
Tiong noted that as per Wednesday’s confirmed patient data, 79 persons were walk-in cases with symptoms. As such, he said it was unknown how many people had been potentially infected within the community.
“The reality is that we must prepare for the worst. Taman Jason, where the enhanced movement control order (EMCO) was recently imposed, has yielded 14 confirmed cases in the first round of tests and most samples have yet to be analysed.”
With the alarming and rapid spread of Covid-19 and its variants in Bintulu District, he said many frontline personnel and medical staff were far past exhausted and overwhelmed.
“They have never expected the respite from the prior decline in confirmed cases to so quickly reverse. In an instant, the efforts of the past have returned to a potential spread throughout the entire community and various housing areas.
“Doesn’t this inspire anyone to take stricter precautions. Does it not cause any alarm?”
He said there were still many unconcerned or apathetic comments made online which were not helpful in improving the situation.
“Some suspected cybertroopers from the opposition have taken the opportunity to spew useless criticisms to question the SOPs to stop transmissions,” he said, questioning their purpose in misleading more people.
Tiong said if one had any practical or constructive points, they were most welcome to be put forward, instead of hiding behind screens and fanning the flames against the authorities.
“Even now, some netizens are loudly opposing the district entry inspection measures and downplaying the guidelines to stop viral transmissions as well as falsely accusing those who are trying to stop the pandemic as causing more trouble.”
