KUCHING: The State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) hopes to start distributing two million face masks to Sarawakians by this Friday, especially in Covid-19 red zones.
SDMC chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said that six face masks would be allocated to each household in Covid-19 red zones, while those in yellow and green zones would receive four face masks per household.
“We know this is not sufficient, but at least it can supplement (what the public has) as it is not easy to get face masks now.
“We already have the masks and we are now preparing to pack them so they can be delivered,” he said yesterday.
This is one of the measures under the first Sarawakku Sayang Special Assistance (BKSS) package.
Meanwhile, he said that RM6.5mil worth of personal protective equipment (PPE) from China under the BKSS package had arrived on April 9 through MAS Cargo and subsequently distributed to 33 health facilities statewide.
“Tomorrow (today), they will be sending the remaining PPE to another three facilities in Dalat, Mukah, and Daro,” he said.
Uggah said that as of yesterday, there was sufficient supply of at least two months’ worth of PPE for the state.
“At the same time, the State Health Department (JKNS) has placed an order of RM7mil to purchase additional PPE from China. This is expected to arrive in the first week of May,” he said.
He commended the private sector for also trying to produce PPE to address the shortage and he encouraged these efforts.
On another matter, he said that SDMC had decided that maintenance works on telecommunication towers and the opening of internet centres in green zones would be allowed, adding that the green zones would be announced today (April 16).
He also urged all government and private agencies to comply with directives given from time to time by SDMC.
