KUCHING: State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas expects a report from the Covid-19 task forces, particularly on the state’s hospital capacity in handling the pandemic, within the next three to four days.
He said the report will tell if the state has sufficient hospital beds should the situation continue or if a spike in cases occurs.
“We have to be ready. We see what is experienced in other countries. Even USA which is very advanced is now struggling to handle the pandemic,” he said at the Covid-19 daily update yesterday.
Earlier in the week, SDMC had formed four task forces to help fight Covid-19 in the state.
On another matter, Uggah reiterated that RM2.3 million had been allocated by the state government to assist farmers and fishermen facing challenges in selling their produce during the movement control order (MCO).
He said of this total, RM1.5 million was allocated to all 28 Region Farmers’ Organisations (PPK) throughout the state, RM200,000 to the Federal Agriculture Marketing Board (Fama), and RM600,000 to the Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia (LKIM).
He said this was to help these agencies purchase farmers’ and fishermen’s produce as many were unable to sell during this crucial period.
“We purchase their goods and then create pasar tani for people to buy them. We can give unsold produce to the nearby communities,” he said.
He said this was one of the state government’s assistance measures, which encompassed every sector in this unprecedented situation.
