SPAOH: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas urged rural folks to constantly remind each other of the importance of complying with the Covid-19 standard operating procedure (SOP) as there has been an increase in positive cases in rural areas.
He pointed out that social events including funerals, weddings, cock fighting, birthdays and other forms of gathering in longhouses and villages had caused an exponential increase in positive cases.
“Covid-19 spreads fast in crowded situation and a person who is unknowingly infected can spread it to many others,” he said after presenting a state government grant of RM500,000 to Masjid Darul Syifa here today.
Uggah who is also the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman reminded the public to watch out for each other as one could only be safe if everyone else was safe.
He later visited the Dewan Panglima Rentap in Betong, accompanied by Saribas and Beting Maro assemblymen Mohd Razi Sitam and Razaili Gapor to oversee a vaccination programme for the frontliners in the division.
He added that 2,422 frontliners in this division had received their first dose and expected to complete their vaccination by the end of the month.
According to Uggah, preparation for the statewide vaccination programme, including the centres, doctors, and health workers were well underway.
“We are only waiting for the vaccine supplies.
“To-date, some 1.23 million qualified and consenting Sarawakians have registered through the MySejahtera apps and manually,” he said.
He hoped that the private sector would send in their list of workers for vaccination latest by April 12.
He emphasised that the vaccines had shown to be effective in protecting individuals from Covid-19 and the public should not be easily swayed by fake news and negative social media postings against the vaccination.
Commenting on whether inter-state or overseas travels are allowed for individuals who have received their full vaccination doses, he stated that Sarawak would wait for the National Security Council’s decision on the matter.
Uggah also visited the Spaoh Sports Complex to check on its construction progress.
The facility, which costs RM11 million, is set to be completed in June.
